Fumbling 4 God
A few years have passed since I wrote to the Daily editor and
submitted my first thought for the day to Robin Ross and the
Presbyterian Church of Canada "Daily" devotional. It seems a long
time ago now. I was prompted when someone, I know not who, sent
me a devotional from Daily. When I read it something inside
prompted me that a Christian like me had a story to tell of my
journey with Jesus that I hope is an encouragement, warts and
all, too many. One thing is for sure, the Holy Spirit has touched me as I have written and re-visited the same devotionals later (still true in 2008!). I hope and pray that you will gain some mirth and blessings that I have enjoyed during the process of God dealing with me over the last few years. I know that I am in a better place to face the future now than when I first started the process. As you read these please remember I am still a work in progress.
Thanks go to Caroline my wife, who has patiently endured my fretting, as she has corrected my spelling and grammar in an attempt to harmonize what I meant to convey in my mind and what the reader might be reasonably expected to understand from what is on the page!
Proverbs 3:15:- She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. (ESV)
Well there's a thing for an old man! I am now the proud new father of a baby girl Zoë, Catherine, who is lovely.
We have also moved into a new home - just six days before Zoë was born. No pressure!
This month I have been involved in the marriage of my daughter Sarah, as the father of the bride, in giving her away to her new husband Richard.
Meanwhile, amongst other things, I have been digging up the drains and installing a new bathroom suite! Also I have lost about 14lbs too. So it is good news all around! What a lot of blessings !:>)}
Matthew5:14-16:-
You are the light of the world. A city set on
a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it
under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the
house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so
that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father
who is in heaven. (ESV) Recently my wife went into hospital to have an operation under a general anaesthetic. I was allowed back post-operation, to sit with her in the tiny cubicle. There she lay, now semi-conscious, aware of my presence but unable to speak.
Previously when she had been in for surgery there were unexpected complications that meant she had to stay overnight! So I was not in a peaceful state of mind to trust her into the hands of others who, apart from the surgeon, were unknown to me.
Given that I do not like hospitals at the best of times, because I know that bad things can happen, I was focused on watching over her. Many years ago I was called to pray over my younger daughter, Sarah. She was healed whilst other babies died, but that is another story told elsewhere!
For now, my concern was to get my wife conscious and home as soon as possible. As she rested, I stood over her and prayed for her healing and protection as I had done for Sarah. Quietly I asked God to provide an angel to stand guard over her. As I stood there asking, my eyes were opened to the truth that I was, to my surprise, God’s answer to my own prayer! I was God’s messenger (Greek: angelos), charged to stand guard and pray for her healing until she was fully conscious, able to get up and be wheeled out to the car.
All had gone well, and she had none of the previous complications!
God showed me in that cubicle that He has called Christians to stand in the gap. He asks us to intercede for those whom He has given us the specific authority and power to pray for in heaven to overcome: if only we perceive it!
Matthew 5:8:- Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. (ESV)
PRAYER: open our eyes LORD, for we want to see Jesus -- even if it is a scary thought -- to be face-to-face with our Saviour. LORD, open our eyes to see the possibilities.
You have first given all for us, so now, as Your chosen loved ones, may we be Your will on earth today. We ask to be messengers of hope, overcomers, prevailers, encouragers, soldiers and lovers – intercessors - in heavenly places here on earth, through the name of Jesus. Amen.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18:- So
we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away,
our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight
momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of
glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that
are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that
are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are
eternal. (ESV)Before Christmas, as I practiced with the band for the coming service, my guitar-strap broke and unsupported it fell to the concrete floor with a bang. I was rather upset and since then, my beloved twelve-string has sat there in its case in a corner of the room.
I have had the guitar since I was nineteen years old. One day something from within lead me into a second-hand shop in South London where, as a left-handed player, I took a chance and bought a right-handed guitar and found that it played well, after a several minor adjustments.
Anyway, when I had the chance I took it to the menders. It would still show the scar of its fall but it would not cost much to repair the original split with glue. However, whilst there I was drawn to have it re-fretted, restrung with new strings, the bridge remounted for a left-handed player and more.
The guitar is not worth the investment in cash terms to have all this done but, as it is soon to be my birthday, I decided that I would like to have it done as a gift from my wife because it is a part of who I am. As I play it, so I will be reminded of the gift. Of course, I expect it will sound and play slightly better when I get it back.
Today's scripture reminds us that although we all have damaged, worn-out parts like my guitar, and we are not used as we were originally created we are still lovingly cared for, repairable, renewable, and people within whom much has been invested by our owner so that we can be a song for Him who is Loving-kindness itself.
Psalm 100:1-2:- Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! (ESV)
PRAYER: LORD, we rejoice that as we come to You as sinners we have, by Your Grace, been set free from the damage of the world and we can now sing joyful songs. We ask that You will carry us on with You into life without end in the Kingdom of God. Amen.
Luke 8:16-17:- No one after
lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but
puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light.
For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is
anything secret that will not be known and come to light.
(ESV)As a small present for Caroline, my wife, I bought some green bamboo stalks. They sit huddled together in a large ceramic pot. It seems they have previously been trained around a pole to have a spiral stalk. One of the requirements to keep these stalks healthy is to change their water regularly, to prevent any unwanted organic growth!
One time I changed the water in the pot I knocked off one of the new leaf outgrowths. They are slow to grow so, unhappy to put it in the bin, I placed it into a little glass candleholder filled with water - Just to see what would happen!
Month-after-month it has sat in the window and I have kept an eye on this rootless green bundle of leaves with no sign of growth or life. Nevertheless, the leaves have stayed green and so I have regularly changed the water, rinsed off the roots, and cleaned the glass and prayed for it.
Slowly, in the hot summer weather, and to my joy, it has finally sprouted forth roots into bottom of the conical glass candleholder so that it is now showing signs of growth and healthy life.
It has reminded me today how God has taken us out of bad situations, where we may have been damaged, hurt or just been alone in the world, and provided for us life-giving water into our beings that has welled up to eternal-life!
I believe Jesus washes us down daily and cleans out the inner environment for us, as we invite Him, so that we can be able to grow in the Kingdom of God. Even when there is no initial outward sign of life, God is working to produce growth. Sooner or later, as we allow Him, this new growth will show!
PRAYER: LORD, we rejoice in the miracle of
growth. Our world if full of examples that remind us that you are
the author of all life for which we give you thanks and
praise.
LORD, we humbly ask in the Name of Jesus, that You will continue
to water us and wash us down, to clean out our impurities. That
once more we may show new signs of growth, amen.
Exodus 13:17:- When Pharaoh
let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of
the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, "Lest the
people change their minds when they see war and return to
Egypt." (ESV)We have a multi-cord dryer that hangs over our bath in the bathroom. It has seen better days and it is now obsolete and fragile. It holds the towels so I am forced to make do and mend. Its cords come through four large holes in the plastic wall mounting, leaving three unused holes in between each cord. They are strung in two pairs: the outer two (one and thirteen), and the inner two (five and nine).
Are you with me so far? The inner two had broken.
To fix the inner pair I needed to push the string across five holes. This was not possible without some sort of wire implement to add support. Then I realised that I did not need to stretch the string across the five holes in one go. I could do it by bending the string into a hook-shape and then thread it one hole at a time. Five minutes later, and flushed with pride, the string reached the appropriate outlet for the return stretch to the other wall!
It was at this point, as I was standing in the bath, the following thought came to me:
This was God speaking to me - He is not too proud to meet us in the everyday doings of life.
I had been praying about the many hesitations I had suffered of late (ok, so from God's perspective I was whinging). "Why could not life be more flowing, straightforward, easier?" I had asked.
Simple; it was not possible for me to be stretched from point A to point E in one go. I could only manage by being threaded by God through the points in between as stepping-stones to the end goal.
Like Israel or Paul I am on a journey – patience and perseverance are required!
PRAYER: LORD, Thank You that You do not stretch us out beyond what we can stand. Forgive us when we think we know better, or think more highly of ourselves than we ought. Grant us a clearer understanding of what it is to be Your children here, even when we seem to be far from where we expected to be, today. Cleanse us through Your Love and enable us to bend to Your plan. Thanks LORD, amen.
Ephesians 6:13:- Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. (ESV)
Recently I have been busy with the duty of jury service.
Leading up to the first day, in my brain a small boy was out and about again, causing havoc, screaming and sulking. I was full of the responsibility of the imposition, and dealing with the officialdom of a Crown Court. So, as any mature Christian would do, I prayed for God to bless me with His peace and His presence. Thankfully, God heard my prayers and straight away I was much encouraged and buoyed up to meet the day ahead.
However on my way in to the court the second day, fear gripped me worse than before. I had heard the prosecution’s case so I knew exactly what to expect. Sadly I had gone in my own strength, it seemed I had left Jesus at home.
I cornered that headless chicken again in my brain, and told it to go and play elsewhere, whilst I rebuked it in the name of Jesus, then I was overwhelmed by God’s love and grace! Fear will not listen to reason, it always argues! Fear can only be washed away with God’s Grace, Love and Authority.
The only way to overcome my apprehension was to lay down the stuff of man! All I needed was a trust in my God who hears my prayers! The knowledge of my previous experience of God’s provision helped me to pray in faith.
Sometimes we go through the tough stuff to increase our faith. I guess it is a part of the growing process! We call upon God’s presence in us, to protect us and guide our minds, hands and feet. The more we avail ourselves of Immanuel’s help, the more we can rest in His tender care, wherever that leads us, lion’s den, battlefield or bed.
PRAYER: LORD, You only are able to divide soul from spirit, You know the truth! We bow the knee before Your throne and ask for Your forgiveness of our sins. Please bless us with Your presence and cast away all ungodly fears. So that we can rest in Your divine Love, and still be found standing at the end of the day, in Jesus’ name, amen.
Matthew 6:6:- But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (ESV)
Every father knows, a child is special to them, no matter what their age. Sarah is no exception, she is special in her own way, and always will be to me.
The wedding of a daughter is a bitter-sweet experience because there are issues and remembrances that have to make the transition within the parents along with the ones facing the daughter in becoming a wife. They are now going to become someone else's partner etc. This is one of those stepping stones across the stream of life that changes things for all those involved.
A parent checks over any candidate with a cautious eye! I have prayed for my daughters, over the years, they may find the right person at the right time for them, in their own personal development. I still do so for my eldest daughter, Hannah. I believe God too has His own concerns for us, and is eager to be asked into all our decisions. So it proved to be the case for Sarah on her wedding day.
Finally came the time to prepare for her to make The Journey to the church. She was dressed in ivory/cream Satin with a five-foot train, which is not rain friendly, and it was raining.
I suggested that we prayed for the rain to stop because I have seen God stop rain before. As we arrived at the door, the rain stopped. When we got into the car the rain started again. As we arrived at the church, we prayed again, and the rain stopped. She arrived at the altar without a spot on her!
I choose to take this as a sign, of God's blessing on her marriage because at our invitation, He was pleased to demonstrate His Father's kindness on her day.
Matthew 6:33-34:- But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (ESV)
PRAYER: LORD, we thank you for your mercy shown to us. Please forgive us when we want to be lord over every aspect of our lives, and those around us, without Your inclusion. Enable us to trust in Your Love for our loved ones, and our own futures too, as today we give ourselves, and them, into Your loving care in the name of Jesus, amen.
Romans 8:28:–And we
know that for those who love God all things work together for
good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
(ESV) I hoped that being a Christian might save me from living in a marred world. Now I can say, in as far as I have the direction, peace and protection of God: it is true. In as far as, I still see, know and have, bad things happen: it is false. This can seem a bit of an insult at times, as when a friend of mine was murdered or a work colleague committed suicide.
Unsuspecting, I soak up the world on my way to glory; I become captivated by its unwanted attentions and temptations and fail. Yet, I am called not to withdraw from life, to pass by on the other side of the road and avert my gaze. I am to be whom God has made me: fragile, fallible and dependent on Him in the mess and muck of life but not sucked in by it.
Jesus incarnate lived, ate and breathed in the midst of the mire of this world (Eg, Jesus eats with sinners Mark 2:15-16). He experienced the full range of emotional pain and suffering including his betrayal by Judas (Eg, last supper – Matthew 26:21-31). So failure comes as no surprise to Jesus because He has seen it all before.
However, this is not the whole story because I also succeed. Like Zacchaeus (cf. Luke 19:6) I rejoice in being accepted as a follower of Christ.
Jesus commissioned his disciples to go into the surrounding countryside and heal the sick, deliver people from evil and most of all to proclaim the coming Kingdom of God. How excited they were about the events they had experienced. On their return, Jesus reminded them of a more important issue:
Luke 10:20:- …rejoice that your names are written in heaven. (ESV)
Without our names written in the Book of Life, all the rest counts for nothing both then and now!
PRAYER: LORD, before we go out into the world once more today, grant us Your focus on what is important to You and Your vision for us to see how we can bring Your Kingdom's Light to bear in our hearts and where we are. Amen.
Genesis 1:27:-So God created man in his own image, in the image of
God he created him; male and female he created them. (ESV)
As I have said elsewhere (Endurance), we have moved house and had a baby in the summer.
As a Christian the nice thing about being a dad again after twenty years is, I believe I am more in touch with who I am: both in the world and in the Kingdom of God. I no longer see the frustrations and exasperations of a helpless baby's crying and total dependency as just personal to me, or Caroline. Of course they are in one sense: Zoë is our baby, much longed for and loved, even in the small hours of the morning when we'd rather be sleeping.
Somehow the perspective of how I view Zoë's antics and growing pains informs my faith which becomes stronger as I better understand what it means to be made in God's image and be a Father. For in truth, just as I see her in the morning and night-time, and covet her hugs and smiles, I also accept her frustration and anger too. Who wants to be vulnerable and unable to perform only the basic feats of communication again Like Zoë?
So, in this respect I perceive the commonality of nature between God and I. I am made in His image so that I may comprehend God's nature, no matter who I am. We bear the marks of His authorship in our being. Thus we can meaningfully respond to Him through ways that are set into our creation. No matter my physical condition or age, as a Christian, I am loved in Jesus because He has first loved us and I can respond knowing that He understands (Genesis 1:27). There are no mistakes in the Kingdom.
More than I do Zoë, He loves us, and covets our identification of His Fatherhood over us and our faithfulness. We are jealously watched over: Deuteronomy 32:9-12, Matthew 23:37 etc..
Psalm 25:10:- All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. (ESV)
PRAYER: LORD, we have been too busy again. We
have squeezed You out of our stillness: we are seldom still. At
best we take Your love for granted and at worst we ignore it.
Please forgive us our presumptions.
Like a baby we revel in Your presence with us, as You hold us
close in the power of the Holy Spirit. We rejoice in Your
unfailing love towards us, no matter the time, our condition or
situation, because You first love us in Jesus' name, amen. Thank
You.
1 John 2:15-17:- Do not love
the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world,
the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the
world-- the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and
pride in possessions--is not from the Father but is from the
world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but
whoever does the will of God abides forever. (ESV)In light of recent events, I have wanted to think about where I am before God and what He expects of me. So I went down the imaginary stairs of my consciousness, to the inner store-cupboard of my being.
I made my way past the previously opened boxes, piled in a heap on one side. For now I was keen to find the box I hoped would still be there, so I pressed on and opened the cupboard.
Yes, there it was, the box labelled, "In the need for faith, open". Its container was somewhat battered and torn by past frequent use and abuse but lately it had become dusty. I struggled with the box as I carried it from the cupboard to a waiting table. There, in the light of the room, I rummaged inside the box and pulled out a cassette entitled "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego". Its tale can also be found in Daniel chapter 3.
I placed it in the player on the table. It told of three God-fearing people who, by an attitude of faith, were blessed. They built a bridge of trust with God between a time of imminent painful death in a fiery furnace by order of the king, and a time where they were to find themselves coming out of the furnace untouched. With either outcome in mind they had been prepared to face the fear of death because they loved God more than this life.
It is a reminder I re-play to myself time and again. It tells of faithfulness expected and rewarded. I believe it speaks of daring courage, self-sacrifice, in the face of a painful torture. How could they do it? They believed their life would be kept safe in God's hands, even through death itself.
Daniel 3:29b :- "… for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way". (ESV)
PRAYER: LORD, in your mercy hear our prayers
for our world today. LORD, for those in positions of oversight
faced with the impossible, unbearable, overwhelming or ceaseless,
bring to their hearts and minds your Wisdom, Peace, Hope and your
deliverance from dissipation.
LORD, in our time stem the tide of fear. Show us the way You wish
us to go in Your Kingdom and grant us the courage to remain
faithful wherever that may lead us. Give us eyes that see the
need, ears that hear the call and a spirit that is willing to
serve, to the praise of Your Name. Amen.
Matthew 13:24b-25:- The kingdom of heaven may be compared
to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were
sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went
away… (ESV) I have noticed broken glass on the tarmac where I ride my bike. I guess it is from broken fizzy drink bottles, or wine and beer glasses all of which have been discarded by revellers.
I had to repair a puncture to my wheel from some such glass.
I followed a fellow cyclist into work the other day and I noticed that he swerved violently at the last minute to avoid a spill of glass. On further investigation, I saw the glass had no impact zone, or the splatter characteristic of a dropped bottle or glass.
It was all of a small, and even, size which betrayed an intent that someone had placed the glass there deliberately to catch out an unwary cyclist like me who was off-guard. Further down the route, now that I was looking, I found another patch of glass shed in a similar manner. No wonder that I had had a puncture. Humph! I thought what a sad and messed up world we live in.
However, and to my surprise, as a rode to work yesterday I found that all the glass had been swept up by some of the army of council litter pickers and local volunteers who seek to keep Cheltenham tidy.
It made me mull over how the powers of evil seek to lay traps for the unwary Christian to cause them to falter on their journey. So we need to be alert as we travel and not be unwary.
I am glad to say that there is also the greater army of Jesus, King of Kings, who sends out His workers - you and me, as we are able - into the world to pick up the pieces, clear the path and set people safe on their journey.
PRAYER: LORD, I thank You for Your sovereignty
over us as we name You our Saviour and Deliverer. We rejoice in
the freedom found in a love that You have provided in abundance
because we look to You.
Please light our path and open our eyes to the dangers where we
are today. As we go grant us the faith, wisdom and strength to
know how best to deal with these situations for ourselves and
those You take us to, in the Name of Jesus, amen.
Romans 4:20-25:- No distrust made him (Abraham) waver
concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as
he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do
what he had promised. That is why his faith was "counted to him
as righteousness." But the words "it was counted to him" were not
written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted
to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord,
who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our
justification. (ESV) We have been away on holiday. I thought nothing of this until we returned home and the following day I vacuumed the floor.
I was quite gratified to see the difference as I vacuumed, between the before and after state where the cleaner had done its work and removed the dirt. Like a TV advertisement, not only were the black bits of fluff and grit removed but also the carpet pile was restored to its former glory, upright and fresh instead of its previous state of being flattened by our footfall!
Sadly, I was in need of some restorative cleaning too, even if I had been in the middle of nowhere for two weeks. Hopefully this would be without too much of the beating and sweeping that the vacuum cleaner did to loosen the dirt in the carpet!
Whilst away, I had asked questions about why God had not done what I had expected of Him. This was a sure sign that someone was in need of a deep down clean out. I guess that my spirit was crushed by the ungodly footfall of life that I had allowed into my thoughts day by day, focusing on the stuff and not the Creator.
There is no one who can remove our bits and pieces of dirt and fluff, sin, that accumulate in our lives except Jesus, Our Saviour. Sin is part of our human condition and as such, sooner rather than later, it messes up the spiritual, mental and physical aspects of our lives, and our relationship with Jesus. It seems I have a season ticket. So I went away and prayed with some friends, to ask God’s forgiveness for my sin.
Maybe take time today, contact a friend and spend some time in fellowship, and keep short accounts with Jesus.
PRAYER: LORD as we bow before Your throne, we
rejoice in Your desire to restore us, to remove from us all that
is not in accord with living a God-centred life—even the
hidden, awkward stuff.
We ask, in the Name of Jesus, Holy Spirit for You to come in and
clean house, to strengthen our resolve to resist the ways of the
world that are not a part of Your plan for our lives today and
leave us with a path to Your Peace, amen.
Matthew 11:28-30:- Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will
give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am
gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (ESV).Being a belt and braces (suspenders) man, I have always carried a chain and a cable on my bicycle to deter any casual miscreant. However, all this security comes at a cost. The galvanised chain is a quarter-inch-thick chain-link, with two extended loop brass padlocks: heavy man.
The other day a colleague of mine told me he needed to cycle to another campus. He had lost his chain but had to go there for a meeting. Without a chain to secure his bike at the other end, he was concerned it would not be there on his return! I offered him my chain and thought no more of it. I have had it for thirty years, and although extremely functional, I was not unduly concerned. These days I have also the hardened multi-strand cable, which is more than capable to suffice.
As I rode home on Friday night, I reflected half-heartedly, upon the journey that I faced up the hill homeward with my post-Easter chocolate weight gain. To my delight, I found that the gradual ascent I made up the incline was not as tiring as I had expected.
It dawned on me that this was because I no longer carried the chain, usually secured to the rear of the bicycle, so I was a few pounds lighter. Every pound counts when you peddle up a hill! As I continued to journey on the truth of this unexpected boon hit home, and I discerned the underlying message that percolated upwards.
Some things that I have acquired from the world, because they have always been there, may not necessarily be a part of God's will for me to continue to carry. Just maybe God wants to take them off my hands – if I let Him – to make my load onwards lighter!
PRAYER: LORD, I rejoice you that you put your
body where our sin is. You bought back the price of our failure
and in so doing provided a way forward for anyone who is willing
to trust in this precious gift of forgiveness and release.
Today as we once more open up to you our hearts and minds we say:
yes! Remove the chains that weigh us down, deliver us from evil
and grant us your healing peace within, in the name of Jesus,
amen.
Malachi 4:6:- And he will
turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of
children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a
decree of utter destruction." (ESV).A friend of mine was preaching yesterday. His text was on John the Baptist. He made the connection between the verse in Luke 1:17 and the corresponding verse reference in Malachi given above. What struck me was something quite simple within this verse in Malachi.
I had never noticed before this aspect of Fatherhood. Something within said that there is a danger, where parents are too busy for their children, that it can have effects on the family and on the society both present and future. The sins of the parents will be visited on the children, a self-fulfilling prophecy for the people, with a curse as consequence for the land.
I talked to my wife about this thought and in reply, she mentioned an article in her magazine entitled something akin to: "How to be a mother in 60 minutes a day". It raised the question in my heart "Why are we so keen to have families and yet not give them the priorities given in scripture?" Yes, we need money to live but at what a cost?
Jesus was keen to receive the small children, wants us to come to Him with the uncluttered and wholehearted faith of children. They are important to Him because they are just the same in spirit as those of us who are older, in a more capacious container. Why then is the bus-I-ness (ie. being too busy for too long) of work creating an acceptability of absenteeism that is in danger of consuming the society we hoped to grow and be a part of, where there is no space for more.
I think about my own parenthood. How has this been influenced by my history? How, in turn, am I influencing, have influenced, my children? How will this influence my children's children?
Matthew 18:3:- and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." (ESV).
PRAYER: LORD, I thank You that You do not treat
us as our sins deserve because we come to You in the name of
Jesus the Christ. Hallelujah!
LORD today, deliver us from this evil: being too busy for our
loved ones. Thank You that You are never too busy for us. Grant
that we may live a good example of what may be a right balance
between worship, work and play in our lives.
LORD, You love the childlike simplicity of the Young. Heal those
of us who have hurts and burdens that we carry with us which make
us too busy to be able to care. Amen.
Romans 12:1-2:- I appeal to
you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your
bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which
is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but
be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you
may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable
and perfect. (ESV)Accompanied by my mid-morning cup of tea, I started to eat my lunch early. As I opened up my chocolate mousse, it seemed to look back, unimpressed at me; brown, homogenous and indifferent, resolute in its container.
As I ate I considered the fate of all the millions of plastic cartons that would have proceeded down an assembly line somewhere, waiting in line, jostled and bumped, being filled in multiples of six cartons or more awaiting their individual story of consumption. I imagined the supervisor endeavouring to get the maximum throughput to meet his or her targets set by the factory manager, without under or over filling each set of cartons. I used to be involved with manufacturing of coffee many years ago. The noise, hustle and bustle still live in some dormant part of my being but now re-awakened by this thought.
I pondered the comparison between the world in which we live, where people live alongside each other and these mousse cartons, which would have been momentarily placed side by side. A world where families are shipped around the country in pursuit of some pressing thing, each to meet their own particular outcome, their contents consumed by the world and then laid aside.
The Kingdom of God, I believe, is not like this. Yes, we are called to be alongside our contemporaries but what we are filled with is of great worth. Each one of us is individually formed, cared for and fully known.
I think we are God's special offer to the world, to reveal by our diversity of salt and light the greater picture of God's love to those who will see Jesus in us, in what we say and do. Our use by date is open-ended, our seal everlasting. What are we filled with today?
Matthew 10:29-31:- Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. (ESV)
PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for Your gracious cleansing and filling. Lord, Thank You for making me, me. Sometimes I forget that this is part of Your plan. Today, please send me out into Your world refilled by Your Spirit and over-flowing with Your Joy, Compassion and Strength to the glory of Your Name. Amen.
Matthew 2:11-12:- And going
into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they
fell down and worshipped him. Then, opening their treasures, they
offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being
warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their
own country by another way. (ESV)My wife, Caroline, gets a magazine every month, one of those that are about a quarter of an inch thick. Mostly I get no further than the front cover and so I cannot comment, except about its size and the occasional glimpse I get when it is left open on the living room table. Usually there are a lot of women's adverts and worldly twaddle but I know she has the good sense to ignore the rubbish. She enjoys the insight it gives with what other women of her age have on their minds nationally, or the writers' view of it anyway.
When we married Caroline was not a "Trekkie" but now she has joined with me to watch Star Trek, Deep Space Nine and Star Trek The Next Generation, all good wholesome stuff. We know roughly each other's whims and we are generally glad to accommodate this.
In an article about Christmas, her magazine posed a question something like: If you spend all year avoiding someone how can you possibly have any idea about what they could want for Christmas? Something inside of me said there are a lot of issues there to think about, hence this devotional. You all know what I would say, so I won't waste the space, I will allow our consciences and the Holy Spirit to say that! I just want to ask us the question how much time have we spent with the not so loved ones we know over the last year?
I wonder what they want for Christmas? Perhaps the best thing to give might be our respect, time, care and attention, or just a phone-call?
Jesus would be pleased if we remembered His contribution about this time of year as well. I wonder what He would like as a gift from us this Christmas?
Matthew 26:7-10:- a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table. And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, "Why this waste? For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor." But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, "Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. (ESV)
PRAYER: LORD, we rejoice that You are King, we worship You Father, Son and Holy Spirit because it is Your right and our pleasure to give You praise. All that we are, and have, is because You have granted it and made it so. Forgive us our sins, our short sightedness, our selfishness and, in the Name of Jesus, we ask that You grant within us a new heart with a fresh understanding of The Kingdom. Today Lord, as we bow the knee before You, enable us to carry the gifts You have given to the ones You love. Amen.
Matthew 14:29-31:- He said,
"Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and
came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and
beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." Jesus
immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to
him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" (ESV)My window at work looks towards the Cotswold Hills. When the clouds descend, the hills become hidden from view. Today, they arrived with snow in them, and true to form, the hills disappeared under the clouds' caress. With the advent of thick snowflakes, the clouds increased their hold on my viewpoint and soon I could only see the university grounds.
I was taken up with the ferocity of this deluge from the sky, but eventually my focus returned to work. Later, the hillside shroud departed and I noted the contrast between the sunshine of a clear sky to my left and the total coverage of heavy cloud, mist and snowfall being relentlessly blown away to my right.
So stark was the contrast between the cloud and snow on the one hand and the bright blue sky on the other, I thought there was a point to this, but I dismissed it as a passing whim.
However, I was to be reminded a second time a few nights later. In contrast to the dark of the night, the cloud reflected the lights of Gloucester city as we drove home. Like a signpost in the sky, the edge between darkness and light was clear to see. It was as if God was giving me a nudge to take note of what had happened previously.
This was my thought: in the middle of some big event, we may slip into a frenzy of agitation, one that consumes our total attention. Enthralled by a cloud of circumstance, we become shrouded from the greater perspective, and our Kingdom goals seem a distant hope.
Our hearts may be agitated today, but be of good courage, because just like the blue sky restored my original perspective of the hills, so too will come the hand of Jesus to lift us.
PRAYER: LORD, forgive us our distractions that
take our hearts and minds away from your protective love and
grant us restoration to Your embrace. We rejoice that though you
know our doubts and fears, yet you still choose us today.
LORD, as You send us out into the world again today prompt us to
keep our eyes focused on Your Way. Amen.
Luke 15:8-10:- "Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she
loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and
seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it,
she calls together her friends and neighbours, saying, 'Rejoice
with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.' Just so, I
tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner
who repents." (ESV) Recently I was in a supermarket, buying a few trifles, for which I would pay with the few two pound coins that were in my wallet. The checkout assistant drew my attention to one of the two pound coins and said that this was not legal tender. So, not having my glasses with me to read the small print, and not wanting to make a fuss, I agreed to swap the coin over with another one I had.
I was a bit flummoxed by the fact that the imprinted image on the coin was definitely a queen’s head. So I waited until I had returned back to the office so I could investigate it further on the net, and where my glasses where to be found! Glasses on I could see it was not a coin from the Channel Islands that gets into circulation from visitors or tourists that bears the Queen’s head. So I went to the website for the Royal Mint and found it to be a 1989 English W & M Tercentenary of the Bill of Rights and Claim of Right coin (http://www.royalmint.gov.uk/Corporate/BritishCoinage/CoinDesign/TwoPoundCoin.aspx). So, it was legal tender and worth more than double its face value, because only 2,500,000+ were minted--not exactly rare but collectable! I was minded to go back and remonstrate with the checkout girl to vent my annoyance with her shortcomings. However I did not do so because I pondered that I had been told it was worthless, but now I had found out it was worth more than face value! This provoked my reminiscence about the parable above! There is joy in heaven.
I know I could be more patient, but I am reminded I am in need of Grace. Such is our nature here on earth. We are called to be peaceable:
James 3:17:- But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. (ESV)
PRAYER: LORD, we are consumed with small things that block our channel to Your Peace. Grant us Grace to let go of the unimportant. Open our eyes to see the bigger picture: Kingdom of God values. May we live in the excitement of knowing that we are a part of this. There is joy in heaven over our decision to keep on laying down the stuff (cf. Matthew 18:7-9) and by our witness make known the nature of Jesus in our lives, amen.
Psalm
117:1-2:- Praise the LORD, all nations! Extol
him, all peoples! For great is his steadfast love toward us, and
the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the
LORD! (ESV)Apocryphally, if a woman gets a cold, she calls it a cold. When a man gets a cold it must be - at the very least – flu! I say nothing.
Sometimes when I get a cold I am laid low for a few days, totally knocked out. I can predict this event to within a few weeks of when it will be likely to occur. Lately, I have been fitter, and so for over the last year I had not been poll-axed by a cold.
So it came as a complete surprise, when I had a cold recently, that without warning it turned nasty and went onto my chest, and laid me low.
When I am under the weather, my expectancy is supplanted by a certain amount of resentment having been struck ineffectual. Consequently, reminiscent of Job, I was in a really poor state of mind for my quiet time.
As in the story of a man who, when lost, stops the car and asks a yokel for directions and told in reply: “well if I was you, I would not be starting out from here to get there!” I was setting out from the wrong place.
God’s Love had not changed despite where I was that day. So, if I was to have a meaningful prayer time I needed to start out from a place of expectancy of God’s Love and Grace toward me and not one of antagonism, or tokenism, because of my symptoms - poor old me.
To aid this process I read psalm 117, which is only two verses, and there was a noticeable paradigm shift within, so I continued on to read psalm 118 - right out aloud.
Once I quietly spoke out the words of the psalms, my antagonism evaporated. Hallelujah! (For more read psalm 136 out aloud.)
Psalm 118:1-4:- Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! Let Israel say, "His steadfast love endures forever." Let the house of Aaron say, "His steadfast love endures forever." Let those who fear the LORD say, "His steadfast love endures forever." (ESV)
PRAYER: LORD, thank You that, unlike us, Your Love does indeed endure and not fade away. We ask, in the name of Jesus, that we might have a right mentality towards You today, and know Your direction, amen.
I Corinthians 12:22-26:- On
the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are
indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less
honourable we bestow the greater honour, and our unpresentable
parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more
presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the
body, giving greater honour to the part that lacked it, that
there may be no division in the body, but that the members may
have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all
suffer together; if one member is honoured, all rejoice
together.(ESV)During the recent few weeks I have played with my computer and I have spent evenings fiddling with BIOS/CMOS (low level computer choices) to get it to work properly.
Now in the New Year of 2007 I remember an older computer which I had been given by a friend and I had spent time tinkering with. They had given it to me because they had had enough of it! If I could make it work I had a computer, if not bin! Through the careful attachment of a piece of wire to a screw-hole in the corner of the motherboard, stretched to the computer housing, to make good a poor connection, I managed to get it to work.
Once the cover was back on no one could see the wire. I knew that it did mean the computer had to be carefully handled when being moved however it served out its days with the current software of its time.
I read the passage above recently and associated it with this old computer. I wondered at how God sometimes physically heals us but always cleanses us from our sins, binds up the broken-hearted and nurtures the frail in their situation.
Jesus directs our paths, as we allow Him, keeping us connected to His eternal power. He is mindful of our weaknesses, emotional, physical and spiritual. As we call upon His loving grace and protection today so we become as normal as we are able to pass for in this present age, and in the process escape destruction and damnation.
Some of us do not show our weaknesses as external infirmities, but inwardly we are enabled, empowered and wired together by the grace of God. Often this grace is worked out to us, and through us, safe in the church where we belong.
PRAYER: LORD, we thank you that you have provided the connection to eternity through Your Grace and Love. We rejoice in knowing Your fellowship in and through the churches where you have placed us today. Holy Spirit reside with us and those you take us to today because we ask it in the Name of Jesus, amen.
Matthew 5:10-13:- Blessed
are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs
is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when others revile you
and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely
on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in
heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
"You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste,
how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for
anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's
feet. (ESV)When it is sunny, I walk around our nearby lake and watch the wildlife as they carry on their existence. I have noticed the reliance of the young fledglings upon their parents, who watch over them. When they are happy they peep, peep away as they follow each other on the adventure of life. They snuggle up close together in the shadows during the heat of the day. In some way they are connected, plugged-in, to an awareness of their particular family, its conventions, safety and schooling in survival: those that are not come to an untimely end!
Much has been made of the breakdown of the connectedness of our western society - the more the breakdown in connectedness apparently the more the fear, stress and crime is generated. Simply put, the higher the level of social connectivity, the safer we feel and the happier we are. It is a raw reflection of how happy a person, neighbourhood, community or nation is, dependent on the size of the area polled. I know – too much information!
Anyway, those swans and cygnets in their favoured relationship with each other got me thinking about how connected are we with Jesus? Maybe, what Jesus taught in the beatitudes was not about how to live as a disciple, but, if we want to BE a true disciple, happy and favoured by God, then we must be connected to Jesus - the rest follows. By the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus enabled His disciples to be distinctive because, through grace and faith, they were connected to God – happy to the point of death!
If we are connected, plugged-in, to Jesus by daily worship, prayer and thanksgiving then we cannot be anything else but His Salt and Light to wherever God sends us because He abides in us.
John 8:12:- Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (ESV)
PRAYER: LORD, like the cygnets we say "peep, peep" because we know we can rest safe and happy in Your loving care. Please LORD let your Light shine, grant us forgiveness of our sins and deliver us from the evil that would rob us of Your Peace and Presence as we go with You into the day ahead because we ask it in the Name of our saviour Jesus, amen.
Isaiah 66:1-2:- Thus says
the LORD: "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool;
what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the
place of my rest? All these things my hand has made, and so all
these things came to be, declares the LORD. But this is the one
to whom I look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and
trembles at my word." (ESV)This morning I have cleaned the cooker. It had been looking reproachfully at me for some time. You know how it is, despite the best intentions; muck becomes stuck to the surface. Life passes by and, slowly at first but progressively, the stains become encrusted to the cooker. The more stains and spillages, the more they become caked to those already there and the harder they become to remove.
As I stood in front of the cooker, admiring my handiwork, I became aware of a story being unfolded in my spirit.
Slowly at first, like the stains on the cooker, sins and wrong attitudes of life accumulate and the longer they are left to latch on, the more they become ingrained and the harder they are to shift.
Similarly, my lack of faith, impatience and selfish perspectives accrue and niggle me as I review my heart's desires. I want to be blameless and worthy, a hero. Yes, this is just my pride busting for a fall, and I know from whence those thoughts come.
Ephesians 2:8-9 says:- For it is by Grace you have been saved… …so that no-one can boast. (ESV)
I rejoice in this truth because otherwise I might think it is by my efforts alone that I succeed, rather than by grace. Daily I seek to serve with my God- given gifting and I become hot and bothered, splattered, stained and made a mess of. Sometimes I get burnt and chipped.
It is good to know that we are a part of God's house. His grace alone is sufficient to make us all sparkly clean. God watches, and our stains niggle at Him too, so He is pleased to get stuck right in.
He wants us clean, so that people can see His face in our reflection.
PRAYER: LORD, we bring to You today our stained, chipped and dented lives. Cleanse us; restore us once more to the intimacy of Your loving care. Speak Your life-giving Word into our minds and souls to remove the stains of our experience. Bring back to us the clarity of Life in our beings that we might in some way reflect Your Love to the places and people You take us to today. Amen.
Matthew 15:25-28:- But she
came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." And he
answered, "It is not right to take the children's bread and throw
it to the dogs." She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the
crumbs that fall from their masters' table." Then Jesus answered
her, "O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you
desire." And her daughter was healed instantly. (ESV)Sometimes things happen and I ask: "LORD what are saying to me?" Today, I was enthusiastically having a cup of tea when such an event occurred.
Earlier at home, I had cut off the last few biscuits in haste from a packet of biscuits and, wrapping and all, I had placed them in my lunch box as a treat!
Now at tea break, as I worked my way through the little deck of sweet-meal biscuits, I could see that somewhere along their lifeline these biscuits had been dropped or crushed. When I had munched my way to the last one I was left with an accumulation of crumbs inviting me to throw them away with their plastic wrapper into the bin. However, because of there history, there was quite a sizable pile of crumbs so I decided to eat them. As the crumbs entered my mouth, the above text came to mind!
This Canaanite woman had hoped Jesus was the answer to her prayers. She perceived the truth that Jesus was the Son of David, sent by God, with the power to heal. We see she was not to be deflected, put off, or offended, by Jesus, whom I assume, was testing the veracity of her faith.
This artificial indifference to her plight was not to side track her, even if she was a gentile, she whole-heartedly accepted His authority and status because desperation can make things simple. She understood that even the crumbs of favour from The Messiah Jesus are worthy of acceptance and trust.
Sometimes I need to not let slip the crumbs sent by Jesus, or take offence at His priorities, holiness or Word. Rather I am reminded that we are but cookie jars of clay, His revelation crumbs make our lives worth living because He is the giver of Life!
PRAYER: LORD, we know You search our hearts to find faith and yet so often we have let Your salvation fall to the floor unheeded. Grant us our desire today that Your Word would again change our lives, encourage faith, and direct our paths through the power of the Name of Jesus. Amen.
Deuteronomy 4:24:- For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. (ESV)
I have been busy, and I will be for quite a while yet, with a major renovation project. So I get sucked in by the doing; focused on the job. Quiet times, are fast and fleeting. Ok, so that also has to do with sleep deprivation and having a toddler! I know God understands, but I could still make more of an effort.
Last night Zoë smiled and waved me goodbye as I went out, safe in her mother’s arms. On my return, she awoke and cried out to be comforted. This time my wife’s attentions were insufficient. Instead she raised her cry to DEFCON1 status, so I climbed the stairs to investigate. She stood holding the cot rail, apparently beside herself in agitation. As soon as I picked her up, put her on my shoulder and hugged her she calmed down. She laid down flat into my cradled arms, smiled, closed her eyes and went to sleep. Yes, she loves her mummy but my heart nearly burst because she wanted a hug from me. Awwwh.
What she needed was the reassurance that I was back inside the house, to be there if it was necessary. She did not know I had returned. She has been teething and two more had arrived that afternoon, so she was still a little clingy. As a dad I want help all my daughters the best that I can.
Despite the lack of time I have spent in quiet with God lately, this event has challenged me once more about how God broods over His people. He desires that we cry out to Him. You do not mess with a father’s love for his children, not unless you are prepared to reap the whirlwind.
That’s how much God loves us, even enough to die for us.
PRAYER: LORD, we worship You. We cry out to you today, hear our prayer. Have mercy on us. Take away our sin and restore us into Your tender care. LORD, please hold us close, and grant us Your Peace.
We love you Daddy (Abba), amen.
Revelation 3:20:-
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If
anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him
and eat with him, and he with me. (ESV) Recently, I filled up my water bottle from the water-cooler at the bottom of the stairs in the foyer. It is like me in the morning: slow. Tea always comes first in the morning, and for this I need water. Hence the visit, so my body can attempt to re-connect with my brain cells-those that I have left-and vice versa, and homeostasis achieved.
As I bent over the cooler, I heard a voice of a young woman behind me blurt out in excited manner: "Quick Dave is coming!" Her voice was full of thrill and expectation, as she egged on her co-conspirator. Being a naturally inquisitive person, as I waited for the cooler to do its work, I glanced behind me to find out what was going on.
There, up against a tall nineteenth-century arched door were two girls, pressed hard to stop Dave. Apparently, poor Dave was pushing with increased strength and perplexity against the other side of the door. Where upon a blind girl and her escort arrived to go through the door, oblivious of the horseplay. Sheepishly, the girls relinquished their control, and let her through. Then Dave, smiling, waltzed through the archway the open door.
It made me reflect upon another David, and one of his descendents.
I can imagine all that expectancy, excitement and hope for a deliverer, The Son of David that was prophesied to arrive. With him came the dominion of God into their brutal and occupied land over 2000 years ago.
It made me think: How excited are we about Jesus', arrival this Christmas?
Are we, heels wedged, holding the door closed, or will we allow Him to enter into our lives to bring joy, into the "doing" that needs to be done.
Make no mistake Jesus wants in!
PRAYER: LORD, we long for Your Love to permeate our every being, even as it is You sustain our lives to draw breath. Please forgive us when we obstruct Your entry into our lives, for which we repent as say: "Enter, Jesus, saviour of the world, abide with us: Emmanuel." Amen.
Daniel 2:34-35:- As you
looked, a stone was cut out by no human hand, and it struck the
image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces.
Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold,
all together were broken in pieces, and became like the chaff of
the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so
that not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that
struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole
earth. (ESV)There is demolition going on just a few streets away from my view of the Cotswold countryside where I work. They are pulling down an office block that is being ripped apart by a huge machine with an enormous set of pincers. It has a long arm that is eight stories high.
They have broken some windows to tip out the innards from several stories up to the ground below. The building now shows the evidence where the pincers have been at work nibbling away like a piranha for concrete.
I find these products of past human endeavours, a reminder of the words from Daniel above. Nebuchadnezzar's dream of a statue of mixed composition and its destruction, had weighed heavily on his mind. Daniel, by divine revelation, foretold a time of destruction of the kingdoms of this world and their power by the foundation of an eternal Kingdom that filled the world.
I believe it was only after the crucifixion that any human came to fully understand the contextual implications of what had been foretold centuries before by this divine revelation.
Before Christ, it would have been seen in the context of the restoration of the kingdom of Israel and God living with His chosen people. Today, the revelation has become evident to God's people, those who accept Jesus' Lordship.
Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection destroyed the control of the opposition, The Devil, and his hold on this world's systems of power. Jesus is The Rock that has grown to fill the whole world today, if sometimes unrecognised. Although absolute, the message and the victory have yet to process through to their timeline completion! We await its terminus. Cheek-by-jowl we live in this age, yet, also in the one to come. Although our present dwellings are temporary, God's Kingdom dwellings are eternal.
PRAYER: LORD, we rejoice that You are The Rock that has crushed the power of this age. We respectfully ask You to stay close to us today, to perceive more of You in our life and in our living. Shine Your Light onto our paths and guard our footsteps today we ask in the Name of Jesus. Amen.
Hebrews 11:1 :- Now faith is
the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not
seen. (ESV)I went to the dentist yesterday. I am allergic to pain, dentists and drills. I come out in a rash of anxiety.
I have known the waves of fear pound on my hull, held together only with hope, determination and a prayer. I have been forced to hang on with both hands to the tiller, arched-back and heels wedged into the side of the well, as the mainsail fills and my rotund craft keels over, giving way to the wind. I am not enough in myself.
Oppression, violence, intimidation, failure, depression, pain, sickness, grief, loss, all can allow fear to pile in upon us -- will attempt to pile in upon us -- as if there is no hope, no help, no-one really there. I know because I have lived it, both here and in Africa, and been overwhelmed by my fear and my weakness.
I am glad to say that I am not without example. Many biblical characters had to go through trials of fear. It is one of the great weapons from the Evil One's arsenal of dissipation. Fear is also the body's way of letting us know that something is amiss or out of our control. However it is not always good to be afraid.
I was laid back in the dentist's chair and asked: "Where is Jesus?" I imagined Jesus with me, there in the room. Actually, he was at my side with his arm around me.
It was a picture I used to inform my emotional and rational self of what my spirit knew to be true. As I did so I was aware of the touch of his presence and my fear was reduced. This was not a trick, say like fire-walking, a case of mind- over-matter. It was just Immanuel at work, sometimes unseen.
2 Kings 6:16,17:- He said, "Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." Then Elisha prayed and said, "O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see." So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. (ESV)
PRAYER: Hallelujah, LORD, for You are worthy of praise because You are faithful. Whatever the day may bring, grant us Your forgiveness, grace, peace and forbearance. At the right time remind us to lean on You because You are there with us, have gone before us and will sustain us no matter what the outcome. Amen.
Mark 9:50:- Salt is good,
but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it
salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one
another." (ESV)I like my food, not that it is an obsession you understand.
The other day I sat down to eat my pudding that I had taken from the fridge for my dessert. It was one of those bought crème caramels that are ubiquitous in the supermarkets here in England. As I started to eat it, I noticed that it was more tasty than usual as I could detect the caramel flavour coming through the custard filling.
Normally I buy the value version, a cheap and tasteless variety at the superstore, all colour and no flavour, but it passes as food. Only on this occasion, I must have not been concentrating on what I was doing because I bought the better own-label version of the same product that was put in the place of the value product normally on the shelf.
As I looked at the pull-off label, I noticed its different colour and then I realised my mistake. In all other aspects, it looked exactly the same.
I began to think about how we compare, as Christians, to those around us. Yes, we all look the same, maybe a different colour, but the question I ask myself is this: As I interact with those I meet during the day, do I have the aroma of Jesus about me? Or, on the other hand, am I just all colouring and packaging with not a hint of the true God in me?
Are we made with the Good Stuff today, or have we settled for something less, being all form and of no Godly substance that costs less?
I believe God wants us all to be full of the Kingdom flavour today, right down to the very last bit.
PRAYER: LORD, we ask, in the name of Jesus, do not take offence at our meanderings as we travel but rather instil a new spirit in us, to keep us centred in You. We rejoice that Your Holy Spirit presence makes a difference to how we value the world and ourselves. Let our lives be full of the flavour of Jesus wherever we find ourselves by Your Grace today. Amen.
Psalm 119:105:- Your word is
a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (ESV)A young lady pulled up in a car next to Caroline and I as we walked to the local shops. She wound down the window and asked if we knew the directions to a local street. As it was one that I thought I knew I gave her the directions!
As we walked home some doubt began to creep in to my mind, I hoped I had been correct, after all I had been fairly certain at the time of telling! I thought I was sure it was a road close to where we live, so on our arrival at the house, I walked on to check the street name to see if it corresponded to the directions I had given. To my great delight, for I am easily pleased, it was the right road name.
As I came into the warmth of the house, I pondered how we take our directions for granted. We know which way the Kingdom of God is and we know how to get there. What a great joy it is to know that He who is The Way, The Truth and The Life (John 14:6), The Author and The Creator of all that is, including our salvation.
The last time I checked with my Maker this morning to see the way my life was going, I was glad to say I was once more reminded of the way to follow His directions. I believe the next time someone asks me the way to eternal life I will be able to give them the exact directions without fear of getting it wrong!
I Corinthians 8:6:- yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. (ESV)
PRAYER: LORD, Grant us, by the power of Your
Holy Spirit, wisdom, courage and insight to be effective agents
here on earth for directions to Your eternal Kingdom. Amen
James 4:7-10:- Submit
yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee
from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse
your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you
double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter
be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves
before the Lord, and he will exalt you. (ESV)The LORD has prompted me in the past not to be double-minded. At the time I was a bit hurt and said "Surely not I?" As far as I was concerned, I was not, in any way double-minded. I was, so I thought, sold out for God, and He should have known it. Sadly, He did know exactly where I was.
As I have become more familiar with The Way so I have come to realise, where there are areas of my life that are not, in reality, whatever I have said or however I have acted up, totally given over to Him. My self-centredness gets in the way. I want so many things. When we are squeezed by life, it is an education to see what peeps out from underneath the façade.
I had an example today. I wanted to interact with someone from a self- centred point-of-view. I am glad to say that for once I saw it coming so I was able to submit this thought into Jesus' care and know His safety. I believe, consequently, what the person saw as we talked was, Jesus in me, not the child within jumping about like a four year old saying, "look at me, me, me" getting in the way of the message! As a result, when a question was asked of me I was able to point the person in the right direction, just because I was in the right place. In myself, I find it hard to be humble. The world tells me, with all its self-seeking, that this is not something to be acquired.
I do desire to come near to God because this is His place of safety, love and peace. His promise is that as I reach out to Him I will find Him.
PRAYER: LORD, today as we come before You, forgive us our failures, strengthen us at our point of need and send us back out into the world as Your disciples with the courage to take You with us wherever we are sent. Moreover, LORD, humble us so that we do not to get in the way of Your Kingdom work through our lives. Amen.
John 20:21:- Jesus said to
them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even
so I am sending you." (ESV)I am shocked but I remain fully able to react. Through this internal mechanism, over which I have no control, I seem to be able to borrow from tomorrow's resources what I need today to meet the present need.
The downside of the above mentioned phenomenon was that after the events of Tuesday (the ferocity of the nine-eleven terror) had sunk in, Wednesday and Thursday, have been a mountain to climb. Just getting out of bed and into work was a small personal victory over depression and dissipation.
Today Friday our nation has stood still for three minutes in memorial. I seem, once more, to be back on track, having replenished the physical and spiritual resources used in getting through Wednesday and Thursday. As I have prayed over the last few days, a heavy cloud has hung over me. It is as if The Evil One has sought to push me down like a small child held under water by a bully, something I have experienced in reality, but I refused to give in.
As I cried out to my God in my feebleness, I could just perceive a fleeting response. Finally, last night, in my being I took authority over the situation in prayer, as a member of God's chosen. Thus in the name of Jesus I have overcome this oppressive introspection and looked up to my Saviour and found His peace once more.
I humbly ask that we might remember to look up to see Jesus bringing His healing and authority over our nations once more as has it has been in days gone by. So too are we to lift up those who are suffering with the aftermath and permanent changes for their loved ones.
Matthew 24:42-44:- Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. (ESV)
PRAYER: LORD, we thank You that You have held
back so much already that we do not know about. Please withhold
Your hand no longer and return to our nations and peoples to
bring Your peace, healing and justice. In these dark times
inspire us to keep watch, to stay close and be ready when You
call.
LORD, in our time grant us wisdom to be able to intercede, to
stand in the gap and remain standing no matter what comes because
You have already overcome. Amen.
Isaiah 54:17:- "no weapon
that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall
confute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is
the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication
from me, declares the LORD." (ESV)Things are constantly in a state of flux here. We restructure year on year on year. My managers fret when I confirm that I am able to do what they ask but I am unwilling to comply without some form of personal recognition. Consequently, I have been undergoing a time of coercion, confrontation and personal apprehension. However, I know that my Saviour has been with me during my times of angst because He has granted me the strength to speak and His peace - as I allow it in. Someone sent to me the verse above and I draw encouragement from the knowledge that my Saviour is watching and sustaining me.
Recently, those I have known and worked with have retired or moved on to greater opportunities. Sadly, what the future holds for me, no one really knows. I am not a brave soul, so I find the above does not sit easily with me and that is why I have shared it because I guess many will have their own tale to tell of personal apprehensions.
Today, as I walked by a nearby lake to cast my cares upon my Saviour, there was a large digger floating on a barge. It was dredging the silt up and filling a large barge receptacle - almost to the point of sinking. The unusual event made me reflect on what was being hinted at from above.
I know God wants to dredge up all of the worldly passion, fears and desires of the heart, soul and mind, which have infiltrated my being from various sources. If we let Him, He will fill Himself up piecemeal, and take this worldly silt away, to leave us deeper containers, with more space to receive His Love and Peace. We may not like today, but His Grace is sufficient.
PRAYER: LORD, we thank you for meeting with us again here, today grant us Your Grace and Peace. Take away our sins of the world and fill us once more with Your Life-giving Light and Hope. We rejoice we can trust You with all our cares because you are unable to be unfaithful with our lives. LORD heal our lives because we ask it in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Psalm 91:4-6:- He will cover
you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the
terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the
pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that
wastes at noonday. (ESV)As I walked around the local lake recently, I noticed there was a group of new ducklings swimming in the middle. However, what caught my attention was the lack of a parent duck nearby as is the norm. As I progressed around the lake path I looked to see if I could find their parents. The ducklings fanned out and one or two peeped out a distress call as they searched.
There was not a mother to be seen anywhere nearby.
As someone who has seen a lesser black-backed gull swoop in and eat a chick in about three or four swallows, I was naturally concerned. These little ducklings were obviously unaware of their plight in plain view of any opportunist gull in the centre of the lake.
Eventually, mum had wondered where her ducklings had gone to and, hearing the peep of a duckling, had come in search of them all. As soon as they heard the quack of the mother, they zoomed across the lake as fast as they could. They grouped around her body as she voiced her concern in loud quacks.
I was surprised this group of nine ducklings had managed to be so vulnerable and yet survived so long without a loss of life!
The nature of the event made me ponder it. I realised how we as members of the body of Christ sometimes find ourselves in places of danger, without necessarily perceiving the folly of our actions! We may become isolated from each other, and our saviour, and then we allow ourselves to become vulnerable to any attacks!
Praise God that He watches out for us, even if we do not recognise it at the time. So when we hear His call, let us be certain we are close to His plan for us today, and if not, move fast to shelter under His wings!
PRAYER: LORD, we rejoice that you are merciful and gracious towards all those who live in praise of your name. So we call out to you today, declare your sovereignty over us, and allow us into your loving protection, because we ask it in the name of Jesus, amen.
Matthew 6:6-8:- But when you
pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father
who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward
you. "And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the
Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their
many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you
need before you ask him. (ESV) I awoke early in the morning and wrote a few things down, a discussion that was in my heart and mind, and it has become this reflection:
I love to hear the sound of your voice, what you want to say to me, hour-by- hour, day-by-day and second-by-second. I am keen to hear how your day has gone, what has happened in your daily walk, to you, your community and those who are close to you: the how, who, what, where, when and why. What holds your mind for the day ahead?
I may already know, but it is no more important to me to be omniscient, than it is good to hear of life from your perspective, to share in your emotion and delight. I care about what you think and do.
Sometimes the sound of your silence behind the words is deafening, it saddens me to see your struggle through the day, sometimes without more than a fleeting nod or thought for me and mine.
In the stillness, or in the midst of the rush of the day, come closer and hear what I have to say, allow me to take away the tears and fear. Ask me and I will grant you my peace for I am always by your side, ready willing and able, that is why I came. Nothing can separate you from my love, for you and others who hear my voice.
Rejoice with me, rejoice in me and come. Today I have much for you to see, if you are willing. You are welcome to be at my side, only remember whom I am and who comes with me, for all things are weighed and I am holy, come properly dressed.
John 10:27:- My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. (ESV)
PRAYER: Lord, forgive what is past and enable us to let go too. Show us the way to look ahead with You today. We ask for the presence of Jesus to come into our lives, so that once more we can be what You want us to be, us in You. Amen.
Acts 4:29-32:- But Peter and
the apostles answered, We must obey God rather than men. The God
of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a
tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Saviour, to
give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are
witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God
has given to those who obey him." (ESV)As I left the house today Caroline, my wife, said to me: "I prefer you as Tigger rather than as an Eeyore." (Eeyore's character was renowned for negativity and Tigger's for zestful enthusiasm!) Maybe it was the lovely sunny weather, or just being aware of God's truth in my life, who knows? What she said touched me.
For years, I have been preoccupied about tomorrow, what it may bring and its consequences for my family and me. Now I find that what influence I have on them has now waned somewhat and, even as I have entrusted and given them into God's care, who they are is already decided upon.
Today I understand that I have changed too. As I was, I am no longer, because along The Way I have found answers to prayer as well as insight and understanding into my daily walk with God: all that I need to know that is. I still pray and ask questions! I found that I am no longer able to hold every thought and every situation captive to my will. Worse still, I have found that I never needed to have done so in the first place! All that wasted energy. I have come to realise that God, through any and every situation does love and care for me, and will continue to love and care for me: if I let Him, even through death itself!
The disciples made choices too. Compared to this world's treasures, they had nothing, except persecution and beatings. I believe they were content because they knew they had treasures in heaven. They knew that they were loved and accepted in God's love through Jesus. They had let go of what they had been holding on to in the past because Jesus came to live with them via the Holy Spirit. They had become Tiggers from being Eeyores – irrepressible!
PRAYER: LORD, I thank You that unlike Tigger, I am not the only one, that I am no longer on my own to fight the world. I rejoice that as I seek Your Way and Your Truth, You bring Light into my darkness and Life into my being. Amen.
*, ** Original characters from: Milne, A.A. & Illust.: Ernest Shepherd (1928) The House at Pooh Corner. 1st. ed. London: Methuen
Matthew5:14-16:-
You are the light of the world. A city set on
a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it
under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the
house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so
that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father
who is in heaven. (ESV) When you reach a certain age, you come to the realisation that people: personal; personalities local and national; and circumstances - that you once had the expectation that somehow would go on forever; have now passed on.
We mourn their passing yet ruefully we rejoice in the time that we basked in the light of their being. Living in the Kingdom of God brings light. Looking forward I see a bigger perspective, it influences who I am.
The world is speeding up, I perceive it in my being, and that is not just because I am getting older! The Good News of God-with-us is needed now more than ever because, just as then, it was revealed during a time and place of unrest, evil prospering and of turmoil, only now we have billions more lives who must hear the message.
I believe we are born to find God, and make a free-will choice, before we move onto the next page of our existence in Heaven, or Hell. All we need is to receive God’s love through Jesus for us, and to live it out, because it is the key to His peace and a framework for all we do in Him.
Today I share good news; I am to become a father again, by way of my wife Caroline, in the summer. I am to be a student of life and a father, to disciple a new life, to New Life.
It does not matter much the what, why, when, how, where and who, for the circumstances of our being because: God knows all.
John 8:12:- Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (ESV)
Beginning or ending matters not, we are called to follow and shine!
PRAYER: LORD Jesus, we praise You for Your Love for us, You came to bring New Life for us. At the end of our present time on earth, it will not be the end of our walk with You. We rejoice that You have gained a victory over death for us. Through anything and everything You promise to be by our side because nothing can separate us from the Love of God, Our Father in heaven and here on earth today, amen.
Numbers 11:23:- And the LORD said to
Moses, "Is the LORD’s hand shortened? Now you shall see
whether my word will come true for you or not." (ESV) This summer, I have had the excitement of moving house and also the safe arrival to Caroline my wife and I, of a daughter: Zoë, Catherine; who safely arrived six days after our move!
Now, I did think: How can I an older man come to have all this land on his lap at the same time and him not melt into a pool of stress, heart-attack and a broken body? How is this all going to work? I think Moses may have had thought similarly in his context!
So, despite my frenetic attempts throughout the springtime and early summer to manage to avoid the baby’s arrival before the move, the more it became likely to be the outcome! Boy did I push hard to get things done before the birth! How God overruled through all this is another saga.
In the nineties, we went to Spring Harvest (a Christian meeting in the South-West of England). After one meeting the speaker gave me a Word:
Joel 2:25:- I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you. (ESV)
Now in 2008, having frankly settled for less, I had long given up any hope of it coming to pass. As I have railed in vexation, He repeatedly told me to be patient – not something I am good at.
The Saturday night, after we moved in, Caroline, heavily pregnant, crashed-out on the sofa in front of the TV. As she did so she told me she was reminded of a picture that God had given her many years ago – of her sitting with a standard lamp lit and a family in the room. This was that room.
The next day in the service God confirmed it was not her imagination; it was His will for us to be there. When she told me, I remembered the Joel prophecy. Sheepish? Oh, yes.
God will do what He says, no matter how improbable (Isaiah 55:11).
PRAYER: LORD, forgive us our sins when we have lowered our expectation, faith and imagination to what we think is the best for us, rather than trusting in Your greater purposes for our lives. We may not comprehend them as we seek to follow Your Way so please grant us the wisdom to trust in Your unfailing Love, even through the tough stuff because we ask it in the Name of Jesus, amen.
Ecclesiastes11:1-2:- Cast
your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days.
Give a portion to seven, or even to eight, for you know not what
disaster may happen on earth. (ESV)This morning I awoke and got up early. So after my quiet-time, chores and preparation for work I had time to drink my tea, watch the TV and ask the question: why am I awake?
Today the breakfast programme I watched gave away £10,000 to a viewer who was one of hundreds-of-thousands of people who had previously paid their £1 and provided the correct answer to a trivial question. The fortunate family were ecstatic, jumping up and down with glee.
I reflected that £10,000 was not a large amount to make someone happy, given that some people win millions of pounds nearly every week. Life will continue much as normal tomorrow for them. In connection with this, I heard a statistic for this country, England; there are over 15,000 millionaires more than a few are grateful winners of the lottery draw. At least I assume they are – who knows!
Even I have paid my pound for the lottery and won nothing - just for fun, you understand! It seemed a quick and easy way out of my pecuniary situation. It was a forlorn hope, as I did not win.
The revenues from the lottery are starting to subside because people have become increasingly disillusioned with the lack of return on their investment over the years. I think the odds of winning the original format of the game are fourteen-million-to-one.
I have observed that Christians and money are an interesting combination; it appears to bring out the best and the worst in all but a few of us. The selfish me struggles to hang on to what I have, whilst the caring me gives away what I dare and yet I am aware of the limitations I put on God in this. Happiness: whose will last the longer God's or Mammon's? {Greek: mammon, a word for money or possessions}
Matthew 6:24:- No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. (ESV)
PRAYER: LORD, You alone are the provider behind all that is good, seen and unseen. Fill us, according to Your will, with the things of real worth in the Kingdom. Help us to be more open-handed with what You have already given. Thank You for what we have already received and not just in our bank accounts. Lighten our darkness so that we can perceive more of You in what we do, who we see and where we go today. Amen.
Revelation 22:12-14:- Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me,
to repay everyone for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the
Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end."
Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the
right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the
gates. (ESV)Today, students are glowing with pride and bouncing with excitement, most of them, as they have been on-line to find out their results. All that nervous energy, now expended, suddenly washed over by the jubilation of relief and success for the majority. It reminded me of an earlier time when I looked up my results on a few A4 sheets of paper, pinned to the pin board, one on top of each other, with my fiancée Caroline there to hold my hand for moral support.
I looked at the page where I thought the results should have been, but no, my name was not there! My nervous stress increased by the power of ten as I took a deep breath, paused and flipped the page to look at the results on the lower sheets. No, not there either, Argggh! A small rush of blood to the head, flushed faced and a near apoplectic moment later was the thought: "Mummy, what am I going to do now?"
Just before I resigned myself to my fate, I decided to go through the lists again, just to check. Of course, I knew that I was not on the top sheet; I think there were about two or three names there so a cursory glance was sufficient. I worked my way down the sheets again, only to find my name on the sheet just above where I had originally started to look! Whoopee! What a joy to know that I had passed. What a relief, because I needed that qualification to teach!
The most important qualification in life is a free gift (Ephesians 2:8-9), given with Grace and Love to those who accept it. It qualifies us to go on to the next step in life: heaven! Do not look down – look up!
PRAYER: LORD, We rejoice that You turn no one down who comes to You looking for his or her salvation. We accept this gift of Grace that is sufficient for us to enter into Your presence--to walk in reverence and awe, with the King of kings on our way from today into eternity. Amen.
1 Kings 19:4-5:-
But he himself went a day’s journey into
the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he
asked that he might die, saying, "It is enough; now, O LORD, take
away my life, for I am no better than my fathers." And he lay
down and slept under a broom tree. (ESV) I fell flat into an emotional abyss, a depression for a day or so. I emerged by grace and through the intersession of others, for which I give them thanks.
This is a representation of the turmoil that went on:
Lord I am hurting.
All my hope seems to have temporarily evaporated, not even the
thought of a smidgeon of hope is left. Why have you not done what
was promised, which I expected and hoped for?
Son, I know that you are upset. However, I have not changed, My Love for You is still as constant now as it was before and this bond cannot be broken by anyone. I can still be trusted, if you are willing.
What about all those promises that gave me a
false hope? I did my best; I screwed up all my faith into a hope
of a promise that was said to be from you.
Nothing happened!
I know that too.
Sadly, some of those who follow Me have a lot to learn about the
consequences of their actions and My will, as do you too.
It’s ok son, I forgive them.
What?
You forgive them?
What about the fact that I am the one who has fallen flat on my
face?
I forgive them, and son, and I want you to do the same.
But I am mad, good and proper.
Do not worry son, you will not fall apart just yet. By forgiving them, you let Me forgive you. You will have to let go of all that wilful hurt pride. Do you love me enough?
I do, but it is not clear-cut.
Ah, I know.
Only live in my Presence and seek my Righteousness, and it will
be clear.
Cleanse my heart LORD, that I may be free from sin.
PRAYER: LORD, here we are battered and bruised, feeling rather sheepish again. LORD, it is easy to become focused on comfort, safety and status. We have allowed a deception, or a half-truth, or a desire to become our priority instead of Your Love. Please cleanse us so we can honestly say that we love You -- more than the other stuff that hangs about in the world and our minds like tar pits -- because we ask it in the power of Jesus, amen.
Psalm 33:20-22:- Our soul
waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. For our heart
is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your
steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in
you. (ESV)During the course of the day, students ask me to help them to use the software and hardware in my computer area. I attempt, by my professional application, to engender a sense of peace and quiet confidence within myself, and those who have asked for my support.
At lunchtime, I escape into the local town or park to regain my sanity, such as it is, because my reservoir of helpful energy has become as dry as a bone!
Today as I walked around the lake after the heavy rain, I spotted a swan family: a father, mother and six young cygnets. The cob followed my progress, as I passed by on the lake's perimeter path, with a brooding look that fixed my eye in such a way as if to say: mine! Anyone who has experienced a swan, six-foot tall and flapping its wings, in full defence mode knows to respect that look.
The six cygnets continued to gently paddle and pick at organic debris with their beaks in an area corralled by their parents, in the full knowledge that their parents brooded over them to keep them safe from harm. Therefore, they were at peace as they paddled.
In contrast to this place of cygnet safety, I am mindful of the fear that robs many of their peace of mind because they do not understand, or lack the knowledge of how to achieve their aims. It is a great satisfaction to see students grow over their time here.
I believe God's desire is to overcome any fear of the world in us. God, through the power of the Holy Spirit and the Grace of Jesus, broods over His disciples with a watchful eye to set them free from fear. In effect, He says to heaven: mine!
Luke 12:32::- Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (ESV)
PRAYER: LORD, we rejoice and praise Your Name. You brood over us and you first loved us -fallen and flawed as we are. Please forgive us when we loose our nerve and forget Your purpose in our lives. Grant us once more an awareness of Your brooding Presence and Peace, in the Name of Jesus, amen.
Isaiah 55:6-9:- Seek the
LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the
wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him
turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God,
for he will freely pardon. "For my thoughts are not your
thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As
the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than
your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (ESV)Sometimes it is difficult to make the time. Sometimes I cannot be bothered to make the time. Sometimes I cannot face making the time. So, I will do anything to allow time to consume me - in doing anything other than making the time, for the task I know I should be doing. I call it displacement theory: I displace the essential task with the secondary or ordinary.
Until this past October, I have been able to attend our mid-week communion service that is presently held here at the university campus where I work. However, with the latest tabled changes in personnel I am not available to attend. I have to endure instead, the imposition of being placed on an enquiry desk until past the communion finish time.
Today, because of temporary staffing arrangements I have managed, for once, to get my lunch earlier, in time for the communion service. It was great to be able to attend and enjoy being in the presence of God and those few from my fellow believers who have made the effort and are based here.
It made me rather rueful for the times in the past when I occasionally did not go because something had come up and I had not made the time to attend. It has made me more appreciative of the opportunity I have had today to attend the service that I previously have taken for granted!
As we sit down today in safety, read our Bibles, and take the time to pray I ask the question: What have I taken for granted as a given today, such as my health, breath, faith and sanity that may not be so obvious a given tomorrow!
PRAYER: LORD, I thank you that you came into the world to spend time with us, to set us free from sin and from dissipation into the world. We rejoice that no matter what our circumstances are, You are always with us, even when we apparently cannot find the time, You do. Thanks LORD. Amen.
Romans 13:12-14:-
The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So
then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armour
of light. Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies
and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in
quarrelling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and
make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
(ESV) Recently my wife went to the games chest, where we store all our family games, to collect a game for us to play. We had decided to give the television a few hours off on a Sunday night, it had been overworked.
To my wife's consternation the particular board-game box we wanted to use, was covered in green mould. So she brought the box to me in the kitchen and I dutifully dispatched the mould with some bravado, panache and copious amounts of mould-remover and spray-wax job done.
Wow was me, for it was not done. When I opened the box the board itself was also contaminated with mould. Humph! So I repeated the process above until all the game's surfaces were squeaky clean with a glossy shine.
We returned to the living room to play our game, much to the TV's disregard.
As we played I considered how the mould had got there, inside a large chest. True, it was in a damp corner of the house with no access to sunshine to warm it up, and I guess this was aggravated by the tumble-dryer in the spare-room thrice-weekly throwing out abundant amounts of moisture. Of course all those lovely greasy finger-prints were like a propagation banquet to mould in a moist environment.
Living in the world, we get crud accreted to our beings too. Worse still, if we are not regularly petitioning our saviour we get mouldy--we allow insidious sticky finger-prints of the world into our lives, through which sin can corrode our thoughts, words and deeds.
Praise God that we can be cleaned up, inside and out, through the Grace of Jesus. I believe He is happy to minister His Love to us, and through us. We become cleansed, restored and empowered to be His delight.
PRAYER: LORD, we are too easily misdirected by the world to our selfish desires. We are a stiff-necked and stubborn people--we want our own way to be Your plan. We implore You today to cleanse the meditations of our hearts' desires, to remove the world's sticky fingerprint intrusions, so we may have a pure heart. LORD reside in us once more, the apple of Your eye, so we can be a vessel for Your presence, in Jesus' name, amen.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15:- For
such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising
themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan
disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if
his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of
righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.
(ESV)We have a fireplace in our new home that has no chimney. It was put there as a focal point for the room. Other than that, it serves no good purpose.
I love a good fire. I find the heat therapeutic with my fingers up close and warmed by its embrace. I guess it goes back to my childhood when my mother and I used to toast slices of bread and buns leaning into the intimate heat of the hearth. When I was very small, I was truly blessed. However, I was also daft but that is a tale for another day.
Fire is vibrant, corrosive, destructive, all consuming, active and cleansing.
As I sat by the cold, black, empty fireplace, it became an offence to my warm memories of years long past.
I resolved what to do and searched the local stores to find what was needed eventually finding some coloured glass chunks. I have now made a fire that glows deep red, orange and yellow. The attention to detail is such that visitors on first viewing are afraid to put their hand near it in case they are burnt! Of course, this is not possible with the eleven-watt bulb. However, it is pleasing to the eye and does make the whole room feel warmer and more of a home. The old toasting fork from my infancy now resides beside the fire on the hearth.
Since I finished the task last weekend, I knew deep inside there was something to say, but was unable to comprehend it. I have been too stressed, too busy with work and home to be still enough to hear.
Today I perceived the conundrum.
Imitation is no substitute for the real. It lacks the recognition and respect due to the experience of true power.
Isaiah 66:15-16:- For behold, the LORD will come in fire, and his chariots like the whirlwind, to render his anger in fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire will the LORD enter into judgment, and by his sword, with all flesh; and those slain by the LORD shall be many. (ESV)
PRAYER: LORD, You are the real deal. Deliver us today from cold imitations that deny Your warmth and authority over us. Open our eyes to see the Truth, guide our feet that we may walk in Your ways, in and through the Name of Jesus. Amen.
Proverbs 3:5-8:- Trust in the
LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own
understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make
straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD,
and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and
refreshment to your bones. (ESV)One of the things you find out about building a computer is the necessity to load up the software and reinstall all the old files. As a result my office chair, which I had acquired from work as unwanted, has been - given my bodily pre- disposition - under some heavy use.
Anyway after a concerted effort of several hours sitting at my desk it became evident why this chair was thrown out, as my aching body will gladly testify. So, having finished the computer assembly, and whilst I was in the Mister-Fix-it mode, I attempted to fix the chair.
I had a bright idea! I could use some large car wash sponges that were about four inches thick to pad the chair seat and make it more forgiving to the user.
Oh how wrong can one be! Having re-upholstered the chair I found that they were insufficient, they squashed down into hard lumps and ironically made the seat even more painful to sit on for a length of time!
As I turned the chair upside down to reupholster it with some denser sponge, it occurred to me that there was something else nibbling away at my consciousness. I reviewed my task and realised that I had attempted a quick fix because I had just wanted it done, now!
This event suddenly spoke to me about my not resting in God. I have been tempted to want to work my own quick fix in the world. I now realise that this has been because I am impatient for me to fix my circumstances — now! It betrays a lack of trust in His love for me and my circumstances. I hope I have re-learnt that God wants the job to reseat my life done properly, with Him central in the process.
PRAYER: LORD, here we are once more hard-pressed by the world to conform to its desires and expectations, to put ourselves outside of Your will. Please forgive us our sins, our lack of trust and patience and reinstall into our hearts Your joy of fellowship, praise and worship because we come in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Jude 1:22,23:- And have
mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of
the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment
stained by the flesh. (ESV)I came back from church on Sunday and passed by a parade of shops. My eye was caught by the flicker of a flame rising up the height of a second floor window. I stopped, called the fire brigade and waited for them to arrive. As I watched from my place of safety, I noticed there was a man looking out from the next-door flat's window. He was attracted by the noise from the single large pane of glass as the flames enveloped the front of the flat and shards exploded onto the pavement below. I saw him move away from the window and I was relieved to see him safely exit the back of the flats.
Two windows to the left more faces appeared, peered out and looked down upon us as we looked up at them from the pavement. As I caught their gaze, I beckoned frantically for them to come down but they declined, deciding to sit tight. They were unaware of how bad the fire ten yards along from their faces was.
At this point the fire brigade and the police arrived and I made myself known to them, explained the presence of squatters in the flat and then I moved back as they set about their work raising a ladder to the flat, to bring hoses to put the fire out.
I was struck by the lack of awareness and the potential peril of this second pair of faces. If it were not for the swift arrival of the fire brigade the whole top floor would have been alight in a matter of seconds because the fire was ferocious and billowing thick black smoke.
Over lunch Caroline and I talked about how quickly the fire spread and she reminded me of the following verse:
2 Timothy 1:6-7:- For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. (ESV)
PRAYER: LORD, thank You for the way that You can speak to us through the everyday circumstances. Thank You for Your Love and Grace towards us. Please grant that we would not be one of those who shrink back when we hear Your voice calling to us today. Amen.
John 4:14:- but whoever
drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty
forever. The water that I will give him will become in him a
spring of water welling up to eternal life. (ESV) Our doorstep leads on to tarmac and the area is a suntrap with its black surface that gets warm very quickly in the summer sunshine. We have a sizable pot of plants that sits in its tray outside the front door; its flowers bask in the sun, secure in a tray of water.
Recently, on a hot evening, I noticed that the flowers were drooping a little despite having a tray full of water at the base of the pot. Caroline checked the soil to see how they were and found the top to be as dry as a bone! Fortunately, we had noticed the flowers in time, before any permanent damage was done by the interruption between water and roots.
It has made me wonder about how we as Christians can be so close to Jesus' eternal life-giving sustenance and yet somehow find ourselves unable to reach out for it. We are stuck in our desolation of soul and dryness of spirit stranded by situation or our own mental despond.
As we come to Him, I believe He will always gladly pour out Water-of-Life and Cleansing into our lives.
Like the flowers, it may take time to soak up this life-saving overflow of His love and be fully restored to life by the Spirit. However, we can rejoice that despite appearances God has once more set us free from our present dry spell of non-God- centeredness.
As we take with us today water that wells up to eternal life in our spirit, let us be prepared to be bold and pour out a prayer for a similar touch of Jesus on the wilted lives of our fellow sojourners. I know God will always fill up, sometimes little-by-little, those who are willing to receive as they reach out to Him.
PRAYER: LORD, in the name of Jesus, we give You
our whole-hearted devotion and our thanksgiving for Your Grace,
Salvation and favour imparted to us today. LORD, we ask that You
water those who are stuck, disheartened and forlorn we bring to
You.
Holy Spirit abide in us and guard us from all distractions and
indifferences to Your perfect will for our lives being at work in
and through us today. Amen.
Matthew 9:9:- As Jesus
passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the
tax booth, and he said to him, "Follow me." And he rose and
followed him. (ESV)I used to have the time to go out into the surrounding hills and take photographs of wildlife. For the moment, I have traded my free time in for a regular income and, less stress when the bills come in! When you are poor there are less choices to be made. Demands made on you by others, such as the Utilities and Landlords, will come regardless!
The really important things in life are without financial measure: Love; health; happiness, family, friendship, community and salvation. Of course, these too may come with a cost attached!
Jesus said to his disciples "Follow me" and those, who had the nerve, just up and went. It is clear from the Gospel narratives the disciples had very little real inclination about what they had let themselves in for, at the start! Jesus was very patient with them, instructed, empowered, forgave and rejoiced in them. Yes, it changed their lives and gained them eternal life but there was a personal cost attached. They did not shrink back but hung on to Jesus in the Hope they would overcome one day.
I went for a walk during my time-off this summer and re-visited the site of one of my pictures. It is a derelict cottage with one aperture showing a pathway and the other darkness. The wall between the two openings has now crumbled away. The distinction can no longer be made between left and right. It remains in photograph only.
The call from Jesus to His followers remains the same: "Follow me!" Whatever this may cost, He knows. It is always shared with Jesus, no matter how broken down we have become.
PRAYER: LORD, we rejoice because You, by Your sacrifice of blood, have opened up the way to eternal life for all who choose to follow You. LORD, we lift up to You those we know to be broken-hearted, without hope, in darkness: bring Your healing light and salve into their lives before it can be no longer called "Today". You are the re-builder of the broken-down. We humbly ask for You to build us up once more and grant us Faith so that through our lives today You can be seen clearly to be The Way, The Truth and Eternal Life, both for ourselves, our loved ones and for those afar off You will bring to us. Amen.
Isaiah 58:12:- And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in. (ESV)
Psalm 14:1-3:- The fool says
in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they do
abominable deeds, there is none who does good…They have
all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is
none who does good, not even one. (ESV)Sometimes I see those who take risks with their lives, in particular young men. They go through red lights, or drive the wrong way up one-way streets where I live. I guess they think they are invincible, or exceptional in some way, above the law. Of course, most of the time, they get away with it!
There are those celebrities who seem to be able to live foolish lifestyles and yet not be called to account. Equally, there are those directors of multinational companies who, just for personal short-term profit, cause the death, hardship and suffering of those, they do not know or care about.
Not that I am without fault, and that makes it even harder. There are things that have made me foolish too in God's eyes. They have separated me from the love of God: wrong actions; lack of faith; impatience; pride; selfishness; indifference and ignorance etc.. I have become a casualty, picked off because I have blatantly, or less often, unwittingly (both work just the same) put me out on a limb, away from the presence of God!
Of course, it does not have to be this way.
As I wander out along a limb, it causes me to focus and ask the question: If the powers of darkness are here tempting me, where am I before my God? The answer to this is: too far away for my own good! So I run back quickly to safety.
If I am whole-hearted in my desire to be forgiven, it is at this point the Devil usually flees, sometimes with a further stint of testing to see if I am serious! He knows he cannot compete with the prayer for Grace and the redemptive Love and joy found through receiving Jesus!
John 15:2:- Every branch of mine that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. (ESV)
PRAYER: LORD, I rejoice that You can set us
free from the slavery to sin. You desire to clean the wound and
patch us up, to send us out into the world again. Forgive us our
shortcomings and grant us acceptance into Your Presence once more
today, because we come in the Name of Jesus.
Shine the light of Your Holy Spirit into the darkest corners of
our being so that Your fruit will grow, bringing new revelation
into our lives today. Amen.
Genesis 8:22:- " While the
earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and
winter, day and night, shall not cease." (ESV)As I walked around the block recently it occurred to me, as someone who is closer to the end than the beginning of life, how I have changed my horizons.
I prepare, plan ahead, and I look to the future, but, I find that now I appreciate the constant and the good in the present far more than I did in the earlier years of my life. Then I seemed "indestructible" and now I find that I am more prone to breaking. Now I know that the future can be changed by what happens today, then I was always looking to tomorrow. What I feel is impossible today, I have found that by rest and prayer tomorrow, or soon after, God will show me how to overcome, or provide a change of heart within to go through it.
My understanding of Jesus has changed since I was sixteen but I know He is still the Creator Spirit of God that moved across the water in the beginning. I believe He will still be there to roll up the heavens and earth at the end of time itself. A constant, like gravity, a rule that I take for granted by which I live out my daily existence. Without the influence of God in me, I would no longer be the Me that I am used to being!
So in all things I attempt, because sometimes I fail for a time, to see Jesus with me in what life brings me day by day. However, more importantly I look to see His influence within me because even when I cannot see it I know He is with me.
Hebrews 13:8:- Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (ESV) Matthew 10:28:- And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. (ESV)
All things are relative!
PRAYER: LORD, we rejoice that You have always been the same. You are always there as we come to You in the Name of Jesus. Have mercy on us and forgive us the past so that we can know Your presence with us today and on into our future. Amen.
2 Corinthians 2:15-16:- For
we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved
and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death
to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life.
(ESV)The other day I walked into a room in our new home and was struck by the delicate scent of my wife's perfume that lingered in the atmosphere. It made a pleasant change from the smell of electric motor and the carpet that I had just been vacuuming.
Usually you have to get up quite close to a loved one before you become aware of their fragrance because your senses have been accustomed to their aroma, so much so, it has to be quite strong before you perceive it. This is because our sensory system can be desensitised by a cognitive filter process known as Deletion.
Another example might be a sensory input, such as sitting on a chair long enough to be aware that the nerve sensation feedback of the act of sitting has itself disappeared, and there is no longer any sensation from that region - until we move!
For someone like me, who has been in the Kingdom of God for a long time, I too fall victim to a similar phenomenon of taking the presence of Jesus in my life so much for granted that occasionally I no longer recognise its distinctiveness. It is not that Jesus is not there with me; it is that His presence has become a familiar part of my life just long enough for me to think it might be a part of me, even after He has gone!
In my case this does not last very long because I am easily sidetracked by the world. Then, as I make a move, I am aware that there is someone missing!
Oh the joy of the refreshing presence of Jesus, clear and distinct to us once more as we come into His presence and ask forgiveness by His Grace.
PRAYER: LORD, do not treat us as our sins deserve but forgive us when we move on without You, taking it for granted that You might be bent according to our will. We rejoice to know the sweetness of Immanuel. May we once more come into a new day with You and Your presence pervade us. Amen.
Romans: 5:14-15:- Yet death
reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not
like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was
to come. But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many
died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God
and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ
abounded for many. (ESV) Do you remember the film, "Free Willy" where a whale eventually breaks free from captivity? Like Willy we live with the consequences of sin, struggle, death, pain, murder that come from the freedom for a couple: Adam and Eve. Their failure and disobedience are visited on us through the Fall pronounced by God.
God desired the pre-fall creation couple to be forever within the relationship of His perfect harmonious Love and pleasure. It was not that they were created flawed because all creation was made good. Rather, they were granted freedom of will, with God's knowledge of the eventual outcomes.
We have inherited this bestowal of choice instilled in them. The ability to turn our backs on God's wisdom, or to obey and choose for the good: to be able to make life-changing decisions for the world and ourselves. This seems for me, to have been an important and necessary part of making humanity in His image.
God did not withhold this time bomb of free thought because He knew we are created with potential. He values our freedom to say "yes" freely, above having "yes" automatons unable to say "no". It seems freewill choice for good is only real where there is this genuine alternative, so God allows us space to get it wrong because Heaven loves it when we get it right.
In Jesus, even the weakest can overcome this human proclivity to temptation and failure. We can find harmony with Jesus, those who decide to believe His risen Son's Good News. This is why we are created: to believe and follow God's Son.
Do not be surprised, we make mistakes, this is all part of creative freewill. Where will it take me today: out of captivity to sin and on into the world with God?
Galatians 5:24:- And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (ESV).
PRAYER: LORD, walk with us today, guide our paths as we seek Your Word and Will. Speak to us, in our hearts and minds, so that we can know Your direction. Encourage us to make the right choices as words become actions during the day ahead and grant us Your peace as we choose aright, in the Name of Jesus. Amen.
Matthew 7:7-11:- "Ask, and
it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it
will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the
one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
…If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to
your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven
give good things to those who ask him! (ESV)An electric chainsaw can be useful in the right hands. I was up a tree the other day at my parents' house cutting down a branch with my dad's chainsaw. It was a bit scary because I am aware of its power to slice through anything, tree or human!
My father is now sadly too frail to have done the work, so when I had completed it he said I could keep the chainsaw. I keep it at his house, there being not much call for a chainsaw in a basement flat with no garden.
My dad's chainsaw reminds me of God's desire to give gifts, according to His will (1 John 5:14-15). For example God does not give gifts, like chainsaws or snakes, to toddlers. If he did give dangerous gifts to toddlers they would hurt themselves or others. So, in my understanding, it would contradict His exemplary character of fatherhood.
I believe God gives good gifts to all of us: some different; some the same; all to be used, handled with care and ready to go. He grows and prepares us in various and different ways. For instance David, a mere youth, was a boy who became skilled in the use of a slingshot and grew up to lead a nation. Elisha followed Elijah and learnt the power of prayer, so too the disciples followed Jesus and learnt the Good News. They all learnt to do the will of God.
Do I know what the will of God is for me today? Are the gifts I have "sharp" and "well oiled" for use? Am I willing to take a risk, go out on a limb and use them? That reminds me I must have a look for rust and wear. How are yours? They could be needed today!
1 Corinthians 12:4-7:- Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. (ESV).
PRAYER: Father, in the cleansing blood of Jesus
wash us, to deliver us from all that is past. Remind us what this
means to You. By Your Holy Spirit, replace in us those things
that have been lost, broken, stolen or worn out. Sharpen our
blunted edges, quicken and refine us so that when the day is past
and all is done, we can be found still standing with You.
In our time LORD, grow Your Church. Amen.
Luke 12:7:- Why, even the
hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more
value than many sparrows. (ESV)I went shopping this weekend to find some new jeans. As I looked for jeans on the shelves Caroline came over and asked why I did not look at the ones displayed on the tabletop nearby. These were half the price of the standard ones I had looked at. At the bottom of a pile, was a pair of jeans in my size and, as one who has grown short for his size, even more surprisingly, one with the right length of leg as well! "Great," I thought, "half the price of the ones on the shelf" and away I went to pay for them. The assistant pointed out that there was another ten pounds off if I bought two pairs.
Ever the optimist, I returned to the table to look in a pile of jeans in the style I wanted, although I knew there would be none there because I had already looked earlier. As I worked my way down the pile, I prayed "LORD, I could really do with a little bit of help from you right now as I know the sizes here are all too small."
The next pair I picked up was not only the right size but also the right length! Now I was embarrassed because although it was a real cry for help, I had not really expected Him to take an interest in such a mundane matter. My prayer was more out of a forlorn hope than one based in faith. I suppose it was akin to an exclamation to a friend, looking for solidarity in frustration rather than expecting them to do something practical.
I believe in the middle of daily life He is with us unseen, but not indifferent to, our situations, and sometimes we need reminding he still cares!
Isaiah 46:3-5:- "Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by me from before your birth, carried from the womb; even to your old age I am he, and to grey hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save. "To whom will you liken me and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be alike? (ESV)
PRAYER: LORD, You are an awesome God. We are
truly sorry that, in the midst of the self-obsessed tasks of
everyday life, sometimes we do not expect You to be there to
intervene because so often it seems as if we can cope on our
own.
Thank You that You never give up on us and at the right time You
guide and come alongside us, seen and unseen. Remind and
encourage us today to look for Your hand at work in the mundane
as well as in the spectacular of our daily lives here with You on
Earth to give You the praise and glory You deserve. Amen.
Romans 8:5-6:- For those who
live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the
flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds
on the things of the Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh is
death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and
peace. (ESV)I have now reached a certain age when I can no longer read the small print, any small print, without a set of glasses – or alternatively, a long arm extension and a magnifying glass! As a result, I have several sets that fold up into little metal containers that are about the size of a large lipstick or small cigarette lighter. As I set off into the day, I always attempt to carry one pair with me in preparation to read the fine print.
I was a bit distracted the other day, and in a hurry to get to church on time when, I remembered that I had yet to pick up a pair of glasses and put them into my pocket. So I continued on my way.
As I set off down the stairs with my little case in my hand I looked down to find that what I had in my hand was not my glasses case at all, but a black screw top from a bathroom bottle! Silly me, I thought and went on to find the real pair of glasses I had placed with my car keys.
As we went to church, I pondered this little episode because although it was understandable it was not normal, even for me!
There is always jeopardy with rushing into the day. If I have neglected to check before God what I am holding on to maybe, just maybe, my assumptions are not God’s will for today. Consequently, I may go on empty-handed, blithely believing I carry something desirable and helpful, only to become embarrassed when the need arises because I have not checked!
So let us bring our desires and attitudes before God today and allow Him to check what it is we are intending to take with us!
PRAYER: LORD, we come into your presence again today by grace, bringing with us all the thoughts and attitudes that we have accrued over time. Please open our eyes to the truth, enable us to check with You the desires of our hearts and minds and cleanse us from all that is not pleasing and a part of Your presence in our lives today, in Jesus name, amen.
Advent and Christmastide will so be here!Caroline, my wife, reminded me the other day of a car sticker from the past, which proclaimed the following: a dog is for life - not just for Christmas. This was promoteeed in an effort to make parents stop and think about the inappropriateness of buying pets for their children at Christmas only to find out that they were not in a position to sustain the dog when it became larger and more of a physical and economic handful.
She appealed to my dyslexic mind by commenting that the saying is as good for God as well as it is for dogs!
Of course, the original sticker raised the issue that a dog lives for a long time and so needs to be able to have the benefit of a secure and stable environment to be loved and well looked after. I suppose the converse is true with God. He wants to provide a beneficial environment for our growth, through Jesus! This has reminded me of the parable of The Sower and the parable of The Weeds. God shows us through these parables that He is more than a God of Love, Grace, Planning and Determination; He is also a God of great Patience. Are we weeds or corn? Are we choking others, allowing ourselves to be choked by those around us, or baring fruit?
John 14:6:- Jesus said: I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (ESV).
Yes, God - through Jesus - is not just for Christmastide, a time when we remember His birth and incarnation, He is also a companion for the rest of the year - more than this our relationship with Him is for a lifetime and then on into the next. He, the author and enabler of New Life, is in us always because we are contingent on Him.
Something to dwell on as we seek His Face!
2 Corinthians 5:17:- Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (ESV)
PRAYER: LORD, we rejoice that You have set us
free. Enable us to keep this Life-giving freedom under Your
divine care and protection so that the world will not be able to
pollute it or snatch it away from us.
LORD, help us not to be a cause of stumbling to others, rather
let You life shine! Amen.
1 Peter 1:3-9:- Blessed be
the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his
great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an
inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept
in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through
faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In
this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary,
you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested
genuineness of your faith--more precious than gold that perishes
though it is tested by fire--may be found to result in praise and
glory and honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you
have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him,
you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and
filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the
salvation of your souls. (ESV)I read the prayer requests and I make a few myself from time-to-time on the PCC website. That is what it is there for. I enjoy this sense of community and I am even surprised that God answers our prayers. I know that I should not be, but I am. However, I note that in a material age there are some who would have us believe that as Christians we can demand the this-worldly benefits from our saviour here and now and He is forced to give in to it.
Many have become insecure, self-questioning and criticised for not having the amount of "faith" necessary to pray the prayer into reality. In this manner people have become shipwrecked on the desires of their heart. Do not ask me how I know because it is embarrassing, ok – enough said!
When asking the question: why me? - The answer I get back is this: take up your cross and follow me.
We will be tested, and I have been, and I will be again. I am not overcome because our faith and our perseverance are precious to Jesus. When I am no longer able to persevere alone, then I will be reminded to ask for prayer support until I can. I believe that for many of us, it is integral part of our sojourn.
Jesus' presence can be found in His body the church, where together as one, we have the opportunity to encourage and support one another through these times. We can celebrate with the good and intercede with the tough stuff. For by the Holy Spirit as a part of the body of Christ we are never alone (cf. Ephesians 4:4-5).
PRAYER: LORD, we thank You for that inner joy which only comes from You. We lift before You all of our community who we bring to You today: hard-pressed, emotionally, physically, spiritually and financially. Grant in us, and in them, Your empowering Presence to bring a Peace which will deliver us from despair, defeat and doubt so that in due season we will be raised up and become pure gold in Your hands. Amen.
Revelation 17:4:- …holding in her hand a golden cup full of
abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. And on
her forehead was written a name of mystery: "Babylon the great,
mother of prostitutes and of earth's abominations." And I saw the
woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the
martyrs of Jesus. (ESV)It is Gold Cup race day at Cheltenham Racecourse, a big event with the attraction of a major sport cup-tie. The town centre has a cosmopolitan feel of London or New York with the pace being quickened by the anticipation of hoards of visitors scurrying here and there to find bargains, food and parking. Even the pigeons were bustled by the crowds.
In the middle of the mayhem stood a man about five-foot-six-inches tall with a magnetic blackboard behind him with the word Mission in bold letters at the top. He was preaching the gospel. Everyone just rushed on by and the man appeared to be invisible to them. I decided to go a little further on, turn around, then return and investigate on the way back to my desk.
As I passed in the flow of the crowd a tall man in excess of six-foot-three- inches loomed towards me, and thrust a leaflet into my hand: I have that sort of face. It talked about peace and inner-peace through God quoting various verses such as Philippians 4:6-7.
Had the race-goers known the end of the world was this afternoon, they might not have ignored the men and their blackboard so readily. It made me consider the juxtaposition of these men and their blackboard in the midst of a crowd and the attention the blackboards at the races would get giving out the latest odds.
Revelation 17:14:- They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful. (ESV)
All things are for a time only, next week the race-goers will have departed and once more, what passes for normality will return. Conversely, Jesus is always here the Absolute Victor waiting to listen, we can always rely on Him not to pass us by.
PRAYER: LORD, we are too often so busy and made restless by all the hustle and bustle of life. Forgive us our sins we ask and bring Your healing salve to restore Peace to our beings today. Amen.
Romans 8:35-37:- Who shall
separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or
distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or
sword? As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all
the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in
all these things we are more than conquerors through him who
loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels
nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers...
...will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ
Jesus our Lord. (ESV)Caroline and I have been having tough times recently with things that are going on in and around our lives. I suspect it has a supernatural origin because of our determination to be vessels of the Kingdom.
Caroline's birthday was one of those days! It was the end of a very long, long week with a whole heap of issues. This culminated in the evening with Caroline reversing our car into a neighbour's car. This just happened to be a very expensive large newish car - which will cost a lot to fix because it is a Jaguar - oh, joy!
Now years ago, as we say in England, I would have spat-the-dummy, but somehow I managed to rein in my irritation recognising Caroline's distress. A voice within said washing and waxing the car to keep it sparkling clean was just asking for it to be used as a target for the Evil One to have a prod at my materialistic predisposition to which I cling.
We went out to a local restaurant to celebrate anyway. I bluntly refused to let the Devil have the victory over what was after all only a possession, even if it was a treasured one. My younger daughter came along for the ride and so this was a good time to catch up with her.
When we had finished, I asked for the bill. The waiter came back and said that there was nothing to pay. Someone from our church was the chef at this restaurant and so gave us the meal as a gift and a blessing.
Caroline was almost in tears with appreciation for this act of grace. She said it was as if God had reached down and given her a great big hug to say He still loved her and broods over us!
PRAYER: LORD, thank you for those acts of grace
that are sent from heaven above. Please deliver us from the wiles
and bad intent of the Evil One.
LORD, we thank you for those who have been a blessing to us.
Please bless those who are your angels of light here on earth and
grant them wisdom and courage to carry out Your will.
LORD, please watch over those followers of The Way today who do
Your will, yet are in danger, in the Name of Jesus, amen.
Matthew 13:12:- For to the
one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance,
but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken
away. (ESV) I know what is green and what is blue, and have done so successfully for the last 49 years. However, my wife and I have differing perceptions about the matter. Now, it may well be that my colour perception is out of kilter with the rest of you--especially my wife's—apparently! We agree to differ.
Living life is not just a matter of common sense. Our genetic make up informs how we see life.
Recently, a student asked if I had found her blue floppy disk. I have a box for floppy disks left by forgetful students! She found it there and claimed it was hers. I looked at the disk and said that the disk was not blue, but purple! She disagreed: no, it was blue! Ok, it may have been a deep blue mauve, but in the lighting it looked purple to me.
Another illustration is communication: encoding and decoding. Encoding: when we put thoughts into words or actions. Decoding: when we gain a particular understanding from what has been said or done. You can supply your own stories!
What are our frames of reference: life experiences both good and bad? Who are our exemplars: our parents, teachers and friends?
I know that I am influenced by whom I believe in, and His Word. God, daily makes a difference to who I am. It is clear to me because He is my anchor against the storm!
His values are not based on relativism or a genetic predisposition. God sees all things clearly but reaches out to meet us. As I seek His face daily then I gain a better understanding of His judgements for my life.
As we seek Him, we become able to distinguish between the subtle shades of His revelation, both old and new.
PRAYER: Lord, forgive us when we presume to know better than You do. Direct us back to the Rock of Life and deliver us from wrong choices we make that may undermine Your revelation. Grant us sight to see Your Truth and the strength this day to live it out, in and through the Name of Jesus. Amen.
John 15:2:- Every branch of
mine that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch
that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more
fruit. (ESV) I was at my parent's house recently and as usual, the dog greeted us. He always makes a fuss of us when we arrive, especially my wife, as she takes him for extra walks, which is always a popular thing with dogs.
When he was a puppy, if he bit my hand too hard I would bite his paw, or ear: just hard enough for him to associate my displeasure with his, or I might growl just to show who was boss.
My wife often says that I am barking mad, especially when I crawl around on my hands and knees barking! I can effectively talk dog, being brought up with them from birth, and I am sure Caroline would say I have the epiglottis with which I could snore, or growl, for England.
Anyway, a nicer and more loving dog you have yet to meet, but he is still a dog. When you attempt to do something that is a benefit for him, like clipping his dewclaws he will growl and make a big show of being displeased. However, if the dewclaws were not trimmed they would grow full circle and back into the flesh causing pain and infection. So it is a job that needs to be done for his own good, even when he protests, and we succeeded in doing it without causing hurt to either party!
He is now an old dog for a terrier and, although he had made a token resistance, he trusted my wife and I. So, if a little affronted, he was soon back to normal.
It made me wonder what God thinks of us and the fuss we make, when we are in need of being trimmed back: how much do we growl or trust Him?
Psalm 9:7-10:- But the LORD sits enthroned forever; he has established his throne for justice, and he judges the world with righteousness; he judges the peoples with uprightness. The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you. (ESV)
PRAYER: LORD, we welcome You into our lives once more today. Through Your Holy Spirit abide with us, cleanse us and minister to that within which needs Your tender loving care. May we be strengthened and so cherish Your light within us so that it spills out as we bump into the world that You take us to today. Amen.
Matthew 17:14-20:- And when
they came to the crowd, a man came up to him and, kneeling before
him, said, "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic
and he suffers terribly. For often he falls into the fire, and
often into the water. And I brought him to your disciples, and
they could not heal him." And Jesus answered, "O faithless and
twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I
to bear with you? Bring him here to me." And Jesus rebuked him,
and the demon came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly.
Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could
we not cast it out?" He said to them, "Because of your little
faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of
mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to
there,' and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for
you." (ESV)The other day I attempted to shorten a screw using a small hacksaw. However, when I had used the hacksaw for about twenty seconds it seemed that my efforts had ceased to make any meaningful impact! I had replaced the existing blade with a new one, before the commencement of the task, so I was surprised at my lack of advancement through the screw.
Upon further investigation, including putting my glasses on, I noticed that the hacksaw blade's teeth had been worn off completely, clean as a whistle! It was then I remembered that I had bought them from a bargain store, many blades for a very little amount of money. Admittedly, they did not have any writing on them to say that they were hardened steel; I had just assumed it because the ones I buy usually are!
Having reverted to an alternative hacksaw from my toolbox, with a proper hardened blade in it, I completed the task.
It was only later that the uniqueness of my experience bubbled to the surface and I perceived that perhaps there was more to this than just the poor quality of components. Today, during communion, I realised what the event had to say.
Sometimes we are asked to do things, by God and by man, that cannot be completed alone by the use the inherent natural gifts we possess. I believe that effectiveness, as a Christian, is dependent upon a faith that is real and mature and in a right relationship with a God that expects dialogue. This grows by faith that has been hardened in the fire of experience.
It is this that gives us teeth that cut, rather than ones that melt away under pressure!
PRAYER: LORD, forgive us when our faith becomes facile, untried and tokenism. Increase our faith today so that by Your Grace and Authority we might be able to move mountains in Your Name. We rejoice that Your Love for us has prevailed once more when we doubted. Amen.
Matthew 13:15-16:- For this
people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can
barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should
see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with
their heart and turn, and I would heal them.' But blessed are
your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.
(ESV) As I have the chance and the leading, I confront my work colleagues and friends about the miracles that I believe Jesus is performing today, through the Holy Spirit. Those who are Christians, or who are at least sympathetic, are touched and encouraged by my accounts of God's accomplishing what is truly impossible for humanity.
Those who are not walking in The Way think that I am deceived, gullible or just well intentioned. It is not yet their time to comprehend the truth; they do not want to see Jesus the way I do, working behind everyday events. Perhaps they are aware that it might mean a change of lifestyle or maybe they are just not prepared to let go the things in their lives they have allowed to corrode their judgement.
However, I believe that God, in and through the Holy Spirit, can speak to them for Himself. It happened to us, so it could happen to them, if only they could "see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn". Those of us in the kingdom have a job to do, to evangelize wherever we find ourselves, enabled by the Holy Spirit.
We are now closer to the time that the biblical texts tell about: God's cataclysmic wrapping up of the universe. We live in a world that is not only ripe for judgement, but also one ripe for harvest.
Acts 1:7:- [Jesus] said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (ESV)
PRAYER: Lord, impart to us Your Word so that we can speak it to others. Enlighten our hearts and minds first so that, in turn, we may know when You are working miraculously in our lives today. May we take that enlightenment with us through the day so that we might share in Your work to those around us, that they might "hear with their ears" and have a change of heart. Amen.
Acts 2:46-47:- And day by day, attending the
temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received
their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having
favour with all the people. And the Lord added to their number
day by day those who were being saved. (ESV) As I played with my baby daughter, sitting on my knee at the breakfast table, my wife laughed. So, I asked her what might be the cause for laughter at this early hour?
I had been singing and tapping my finger to the beat of a tune as it progressed. I know this was enough reason in itself, but surprisingly it was not the cause. She had seen Zoë tapping the table with her hand, and had wondered how our little girl, whose fingers were clasped around one of mine, was able to move her arm to the beat so accurately! Then she realised, of course it was not Zoë’s hand moving to the beat, but my finger inside her hand moving it: hence her laughter.
I reflected upon how God moves through human agency without His hand being apparent to the casual viewer. When God moves in a mysterious way to perform miracles, signs and wonders we recognise who the author is because it is exceptional. It is an act of grace, a challenge to our way of life, a signpost or a warning.
Our omniscient Father foreknows, enables and guides events from behind the scenes (E.g. Jesus in Matthew Ch. 2). God is willing to move unseen, to carry out His purposes (E.g. Cyrus in Isaiah 45). Even in today’s turbulent world God is tapping to his song of Love (cf. Irena Sendler: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irena_Sendler, Maximilian Kolbe: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maximilian_Kolbe). His presence in us makes a difference!
Jesus desires us to be beacons of hope and light to those about us. As we hold tightly on to Him, so we are moved by His Presence and, sooner or later, it will become evident to all (John 13:35). Saltiness is evident to those who taste it (Mark 9:42-50). So maybe we should ask: who, or what, are we holding onto tight today?
PRAYER: LORD, we have belittled the enormity of
Your Love. By the smallness of our thoughts and our actions; we
have denied Your Love for us and through us.
Purify our hearts and minds by the inspiration of the Holy
Spirit. Embolden us in difficult times so that we may find favour
in Your sight. Once more inspire us as we meet with those You
bring to cross our paths today, in Jesus’ name, amen.
Luke 11:2-4:- And he said to them, "When you pray, say: Father,
hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our
daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive
everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into
temptation." (ESV) I have surrendered to temptation again: to wrest control of my life from God, to whom I have previously entrusted it. It is easily done—and not for the last time. I hope I am getting better at giving Him permission to reign.
I ask: Why did I put my will before His, in aspects of my life?
The usual answer: Pride and Presumption - I am afraid of how God might counter my own desire with His divine, No or Yes! However, every bright idea, thing or attitude, clutched in my hand, but not submitted first into His, lies awaiting a tug at an opportune moment to go deeper and cause harm. The more we thrash about resisting God’s help the deeper it penetrates and the more it hurts and God is saddened by our folly.
As a Christian husband, father, son and teacher, I believe I will be held to account for how I have conducted myself. As a young Christian I took control of my life—what a hero, chest puffed out!
What a Wally!
Now I hope I know better. God’s Will always comes first, so that His Holy Spirit can aid and encourage us in our life: If we let Him. Every day is a new start with God and ANYTHING held outside of God’s purview will surely become perverted. We have a choice to make.
So, with me today, offer up all our hopes and fears, life or death—all that may have ensnared us—willingly to God. I believe Jesus truly wants all the good, the bad and the ugly, so He can redeem us. For this is why Jesus came.
It is only in submission to God that we find deliverance, encouragement and a real freedom to grow and flourish.
PRAYER: LORD, we long to be better disciples. Open our eyes to see what we are holding tightly in our hand which is not a part of Your desire for our lives. We give you permission to remove the fish-hook of our willfulness and sin, and our presence from outside of Your loving-kindness. May we be brought once more into your healing solace, because we ask it in the Name of Jesus, amen.
Galatians 5:16-25:- But I
say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of
the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit,
and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these
are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you
want to do… …But the fruit of the Spirit is love,
joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh
with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us
also walk by the Spirit. (ESV)We are constantly bombarded with images that are contrived to tempt us to think the unthinkable, and they are all around us during the day. It is inescapable. Do not be overcome; it is a part of being a physical being in the physical world.
Lust does not finish at sexual desire, it can be for anything at all, whatever causes you to reach out, grab and close the fist around it, excluding the Kingdom: money, addiction, power, possessions, success, vengeance, violence etc..
In Northern Africa, to catch a monkey they put salt in a hole in a tree trunk. As the monkey grabs the salt, it closes its fist because it wants it. This makes its clenched hand too big to be removed through the hole, so it is caught and eaten.
One thing I know is true: as I continue to hold on to non-Kingdom desires, I will be consumed because it will give the Devil a foothold. However, I do have a choice: by prayer and an act of will, I can let go of whatever preoccupies me outside the Kingdom of God. All I need do is to give it into the hands of Jesus in prayer, now, today, to lay it down totally. Sometimes this needs the intercession of others.
Jesus dusts me down, checks me over, hugs me, and then sends me out again with a warning: Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness! I visualise this act: I lay the crown of my desires at the feet of Jesus. To do this is to know true freedom and real joy.
Psalm 103:1-5:- Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. (ESV)
PRAYER: LORD, we rejoice that You died to set
us free. As we come to You today we lay our lives down before You
once more, knowing that this is the only one sure place for them
to be set free.
LORD, show us today what it means to seek first the Kingdom so
that we might walk in it. We rejoice that You are the One who can
set us free. We ask that You walk with us as we go into the world
today. Amen.
Luke 18:9-14:- … "Two
men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other
a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus:
'God, I thank you that I am not like other men,…
…But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even
lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be
merciful to me, a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his
house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts
himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be
exalted." (ESV)"I am the kiddie!" This is my raison d'être. One of the dangers in doing something I think is "worthwhile" is, I become focused on the task and allow myself to become distanced from God. You can see this happen in the story of the Exodus people or King David, how egotism leads to pride, failure, consequences and suffering.
We see on the news today illustrations of wrong deeds. People who become unstuck because they have lost contact with their Creator's rules and they have forgotten from whence they have come. They have weighed anchor from where they could have resisted the storm, if only they had held fast.
Do not misunderstand me, what is called, positive-stroking is a good and godly thing, and I am all for it. There is a need for us all to encourage and support one another by recognising skills and achievements. Sadly, this is all too often lacking for those who go on faithfully doing what others would not commit time, or stoop, to do. Praise God for the faithful.
Whenever I did something good, I would say to myself: "I am the kiddie!" It went straight to my head and the Evil One swelled up with pride and rushed in. He still does if I am not careful, but I am "in remission" these days because I know whom it is that I serve.
True, I still need to be reminded by my Maker, from whence come all my gifts, knowledge, abilities and skills, and also with them comes responsibility, but I praise Him for them.
I attempt to be an honest, good steward so when temptation, trouble or friendship succour calls on me, the store cupboard is not empty. If it is, I know it to be a wretched and lonely place. It echoes with the sound of my voice.
Matthew 6:22-23:- but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! (ESV)
PRAYER: LORD, today as I call on You, can I have some new "batteries" for my light? LORD, You meet us where we are, show us the way because You are the great example for us to follow. As we tug at Your hand, redeem us once more from our places of enthralment and by Your forgiveness bring us back into Your embrace and protective love. Amen.
Mark 4:19:- but the cares of
the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for
other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves
unfruitful. (ESV) I have just finished watching a documentary on TV called, "Ice Dogs" where an Englishman, Benedict Allen, learnt to steer a sledge with a pack of huskies. I was transfixed by his willingness to risk his own life, as well as those of the dogs, as he clung on to the sledge. This was all in a failed attempt to cross the middle of the Bering Straight.
The widened whites of his eyes betrayed fear as he filmed himself ten days away from the nearest human at a time when he had misplaced his pack of dogs, sledge and provisions in a merciless wilderness of sea-ice and snow.
He lived to tell the tale because at the last moment of hope he came upon the dogs waiting for him. They had waited for him to come back and take them to safety! His re-union with the dogs was touching, as, with a smile, he returned to the comparative safety of a town. He had demonstrated to himself and the viewers the achievement of his goal, that of being able to master a pack of dogs on his own.
A picture that was in stark contrast to a few weeks previous when the dogs just ignored his voice and followed the man in front!
It made me ponder about how my life is being steered. In what direction is it going today - needlessly into danger, just because I can? Do my emotions and desires respond to the call of my spirit as it clings on at the back? Does the body listen to what the spirit says? On the other hand, am I out of control, being lead astray by the whims of desire into some hostile environment? Just a thought!
Praise God that we have a saviour who can rescue us!
Luke 15:4-7:- "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbours, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.' Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. (ESV)
PRAYER: LORD, today when we decide that we no longer want to be lead astray, hear our prayer and bring us home to Your safety. Amen.
1 Peter 5:6-9:- Humble
yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at
the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on
him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your
adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking
someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that
the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your
brotherhood throughout the world. (ESV)We have a new phenomenon in our vicinity: Identity theft. Thieves can raid our bins left out for the refuse collectors to remove. They scavenge for paperwork that might give away your personal account details. They set up mobile phone or credit accounts on the Internet with these particulars, and purchase products in your name, with your details as collateral, until the money or your credit is all used up!
Similarly, we know the Devil is on a quest to catch us out when we fall, become proud, wilful, or reckless. Maybe it is because we have not been wholehearted in prayer or careful enough with the gifts we have been given? Anyway, I believe he wants to steal our potential as Christians, given half a chance.
Yes, specifically Christians, because they are at a premium as spiritual prey. Put simply he desires to pervert and quench our spirit long enough to bring sorrow to our Saviour. If the Devil can use unwary Christians as pawns to bring harm to The Church as the body of Christ, he will. When we are sidelined into worldly preoccupations we become rendered useless, just like the five foolish virgins that were unprepared when it mattered (Matthew 25:2). At worst, we might cause real harm and destruction to others around us, like a Judas.
If we test our thoughts and attitudes against biblical standards, before we bring anything into public view, we might just stop our identity from being misused!
If we do get it wrong, let us be honest and go to our Saviour, kneel and ask His forgiveness. Maybe someone else might need to be involved in the process too? Anyway, He will in return restore to us, by Grace, a new Kingdom identity that He has kept safe in heaven.
PRAYER: LORD, we ask today for You to repair
our broken-down defences and return to us our true identity kept
safe in You. Please grant us the confidence to use the weapons of
spiritual warfare You have prepared for us, to be able to stand
up for Jesus once more today.
Then may we dismiss with a shout of declaration and praise, the
evil that preys around our streets seeking to trick and rob us of
Your eternal Love. Amen.
Matthew 4:6-7:- "and said to
him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is
written, "'He will command his angels concerning you,' and" 'On
their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot
against a stone.'" Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'You
shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'" (ESV)It seems that the truth of God's creation and the days of the great I AM, are long past for many in today's world. If only we, with little embarrassment, could let the eternal salvation and Omnipotence thing settle into obscurity, to be talked about no more.
Perhaps God, like me, has been getting older. When I pray I seldom seem to get a valid answer. It has been getting worse as He has grown older and a more distant reality. I guess that He must find it a bit of a struggle to run the universe these days, what with all these new fangled gadgets and inventions that clog the airwaves.
How does this sound to you, reasonable or outrageous? Many of us over the years are faced in the workplace, home or at school with a choice to believe or to doubt. Circumstances force us to stand up for Jesus or to doubt and accept His demise.
For me, you are either "IN" or "OUT" of the Kingdom of God. There is no halfway house, no diminution of God's power to Love, Care for or to speak into our lives, ever. For He is Eternity itself, and all things are contingent on Him.
Jesus knew this when tempted by Satan's questioning: "IF…."
Satan's tactic appears to have been to apply selective truths in isolation. He attempted to promote a doubt in the mind of Jesus, to force His hand prematurely. Apparently, Jesus was vulnerable to the psychological pressure involved in His role as the Son of God incarnate. Had Satan succeeded in this deception I assume Jesus would have disqualified Himself from the task of bringing salvation to humanity.
Today, let us remind ourselves of our Saviour's resolve not to be conformed into the world's pattern of doubt and self-affirmation.
PRAYER: LORD, we praise You for Your Faithfulness and Grace brought to us through Jesus our Saviour each day. Forgive us when we doubt Your importance. Let us not be caught out by questioning Your divine purposes for our lives or put Your Love for us to the test. Show us The Way forward and enable us to walk with confidence in it once more today. Amen.
Psalm 91:1-2:- He who dwells
in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the
Almighty. I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, my
God, in whom I trust." (ESV)One day last month, I walked through town, in a mêlée of Easter shoppers. Amidst the hubbub on the pavement, there was a small toddler making his way towards me. I thought that this was a very brave boy -- at such a young age -- to be walking without intimidation and some confidence among those who were a good four-feet taller than he was.
As the boy looked over his shoulder, my attention was drawn to the looming figure three-feet behind, who would also have caught the attention of everyone else who followed. This gentle giant of a man who followed the boy displaced with just a look anyone who might be foolish enough to step near his boy.
I felt this was a reminder that as we walk through perilous situations, apparently on our own, we too can step out in confidence, because our God is a consuming fire! Even though I pass through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, because He is just behind.
As we go through our situations today, let us remember that just one look from Him is enough!
PRAYER: We thank You, Lord, for Your promise that those who live in You will always rest in Your shadow. Grant us assurance as we step out to face today's challenges. In the name of Jesus we pray knowing that You hear. Thanks LORD. Amen.
Luke 19:41-42:- And when he
drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, Would that
you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for
peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. (ESV)I watched a BBC programme last night about two deaths in Ramallah, part of a series about War in the Middle East and its causes. One, was a twelve-year-old Palestinian boy shot by Israeli soldiers whilst in the arms of his father, and the other, an Israeli Jewish soldier beaten, kicked and burnt by a mob. It showed that, post Oslo-agreement, there are hotspots of hatred and mistrust on both sides. It is awful; both sides seek vengeance and retribution from the other.
As I watched, I perceived the fear, terror and hatred in the faces on both sides. I was first and foremost glad not to be there amid the hatred, pain and fear. Something inside cried out in despair at this visual intrusion into a conflict I knew little about. Today as I work my mind is still there.
I know that even in the darkest places our LORD reigns and cares. I am glad that He is so much greater that we are. He is not overwhelmed but still He weeps for His people - for us.
It is no accident that God has made it His prerogative alone to avenge in righteous anger. It is, I believe, too great a task for a human to carry this on their own without being destroyed because anger is corrosive - like attempting to carry molten metal in the palm of your hands.
Let us, where we go today, bring the Peace and Love of God with us in our inner being. If we are not in this place ourselves let us seek God there before we too become damaged and scarred.
Romans 12:18:- If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. (ESV)
PRAYER: LORD, we lift up to You those lives
that are taken up in rage, hatred and revenge. We ask that You
deliver both them and us from Evil, to begin a healing work in us
all.
LORD, Grant in us the grace of forgiveness to make a fresh start
today. Amen.
1 Corinthians 6:11:- And
such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified,
you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by
the Spirit of our God. (ESV)Recently I had a kitchen disaster when the frying pan I used burst into flames! I had put the pan on too high a flame which over-heated the oil in it. When I put the wet vegetables into the pan, they spat out the oil and its vapour like a flailing floundering swimmer! Consequently the flames were not slow to take up my gratuitous offer, of a free excursion away from the hob!
The outcome of this little conflagration was black, heat-treated carbonised soot all over the cooker hood, which is just what you do not want when you were tired in the first place. I put some cleaner onto a cloth and wiped, only to see the flame-treated black smiling rebelliously back at me, untouched by my feeble efforts!
Later that night, I saw this tarnished hood declaring its defiance and non-cleanness. I hate to leave things to the morning so I put some washing-up liquid, on a sponge and the soot came off, just like that, clean as a whistle.
I was so surprised by the complete contrast between cleaners that I thought there must be more to this than just my inability to choose the right cleaner in the first place. Possibly God was reminding me that no matter how hard we try, to make ourselves clean, we cannot do it on our own – like rubbing ineffectually on the cooker hood air-filter originally.
There is only one effective cleanser from sin, in all its guises. Jesus is the one and only person with the capacity to lift off our spiritual crud, forgive our failures and welcome us into heaven as saints with clean robes.
It is amazing that something as simple as making the right choice changes lives - just like that! I know it did for me!
PRAYER: LORD, forgive us our failures and our sins, as we ask it in the Name of Jesus. We rejoice that something as simple as making a decision to trust You with our lives can make so much difference. We worship you because You first reached down and brought Salvation into the world and our lives. Amen.
Luke 7:38-50:- standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began
to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of
her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.
...And he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in
peace." (ESV)I was in a queue at a set of traffic lights in town. We were stationary, so I looked expectantly towards the red lights in front of me, when a movement in the car in front of me caught my eye. It turned out to be a woman who had leant across to get up close and personal with her passenger: intimate. I thought; it must be love. You get exhibitions of young parting lovers making public declarations of affection. I can remember being like that once.
Anyway, the lights being still on red, and me being inquisitive, I watched this tableau played out before me. Only I realised the person on whom the woman was sooo intent, was not her partner, no, it was her toddler son! Presumably he was in a booster seat which raised his head up to adult levels. She was inspecting his face, then cleaning it and fussing him, prior to being dropped off at the nursery around the corner.
Well I was not wrong, I thought, it was love! Then the following words drifted into my consciousness: coming-towards-as-if-to-kiss.
Yes, I had been ambushed by God again. Proskyneo, the N.T. Greek word for worship means just that. Yes, I am no Greek lexicon, I had to look it up to find it again. It is not an amorous encounter, but rather one of trust, love, deference, respect and intimacy; like Mary Magdalene’s uninhibited entreaty.
As a Creator, God longs to be close with His children, just as this mother was to her son. The question is will we allow Him to get up close and personal? Close enough so He can clean us up, make us presentable, encourage us, and then send us out!
OK, are we ready to being open to Him in reverence today, even up close?
PRAYER: LORD, You are awesome and terrible, holy and majestic, yet You are also jealous of our worship, obedience and love. So we, with bended knee and humble hearts, say Our LORD come! Visit us once more today, in Jesus name, amen.
Psalm 1:6:- for the LORD
knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will
perish. (ESV)I remember a cartoon once sent to me on a greetings card. The gist of it was a stampede of lemmings, depicted running towards the cliff edge. In the middle of this scene of happy lemmings rushing towards their ultimate destruction was a solitary lemming standing erect, still, and thinking. The caption underneath read something like this: "It was at this point that Arthur realised that he was not like other lemmings."
I remember it because my name could have been Arthur. Although I can be spontaneous, I have seldom been one to follow the crowd, in any direction, to blindly jump without an interrogation of the facts and the consequential outcomes for me and for others. Despite this, in the heat of the moment, sometimes it is hard to do what is right. Which outcome is just for my selfishness, which for the greater good and which can be just for fun? Who is the lemming with a death wish, metaphorical or literal: me, or them? It is fair to say that both have been true at times, but this becomes apparent only in retrospect!
My eldest daughter wears a wristband with a mnemonic on it, WWJD. This translates into: What would Jesus Do? I wear a wooden cross. It is a part of my credo. For me, unwritten, it says the same thing as her wristband.
As I go through the day people glance at my cross, as it peeps out from behind my tie. I am glad to wear my cross because of what it proclaims but it is there mainly as my personal prompt, a reminder to ask the question in the heat of the moment: What would Jesus have me do? Although it is not foolproof, it has saved my life a number of times!
John 10:14-15:- I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. (ESV)
PRAYER: Praise You Jesus that You are the good shepherd who is never deflected from being at our side. Thank You LORD, that You know us, and our weaknesses. Forgive us our sins and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Be to us the lamp for our feet, and the light for our path as we follow You today. Amen.
1 Peter 5:5-11:- Clothe
yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for
"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Humble
yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at
the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on
him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your
adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking
someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that
the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your
brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a
little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his
eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm,
strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and
ever. Amen. (ESV)From time-to-time, over and above my normal daily existence, things come along and bump my reality, upset my worldview of what God should be doing for me and send me running in circles instead of into the Father's arms.
This year I have known friends and acquaintances get into heaven before me and frankly, I am in no hurry to arrive myself. Life-changing events like this happen. They may lead on naturally to moments of life reappraisal or depression. This I have come to recognise.
It is like being on the edge of a waterfall, or a whirlpool, I see the signs of the darkness below and paddle with all my inner-being to find the safety of The Rock where I know I will be safe. Sometimes it takes a day or two to become reassured and rested, to be once more safe in my Saviour's arms, but I know that without the touch of Jesus on my darkness it would be far more profound and potentially never-ending.
I am someone who has an occasional prophetic gifting of sorts, when God chooses to reveal His Word to me. Although it is a ministry that is a privilege and a responsibility, it is no substitute for keeping my day-to-day existence centred in Him.
I know the truth of the verses above. The Devil is out to undermine our confidence in Jesus, just like he did to John the Baptist.
Matthew 11:3:- Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another? (ESV)
Faith is being sure of God's Love even when I cannot experience it at first hand. It is an act of the will and heart in the face of adversity. Like John, we need to be reminded by Jesus: "… blessed is the one who is not offended by me." If we keep the faith, even to death, we will not be disappointed.
PRAYER: Yours LORD is the greatness the power and the glory, we believe that You are the light of the world, grant that we might not walk in darkness but rather have the light of life that comes from us being with You today. Amen.
Luke 12:34:- For where your
treasure is, there will your heart be also. (ESV)I remember the experience as if it were yesterday, the excited anticipation of opening presents. I used to rack my brains as I considered what form would fit into the disguised package now in front of me. I was also aware of the tension in those around me as they sought signs of approval in my face. Would I approve of the gift?
Even boring flat envelopes qualified for just such anticipation. Gladly I flipped open festive cards assigned to Rod as I totted up the amount given inside.
I can remember the nervous pride on the arrival of my monthly wage slips. I did well for a young man. I worked hard. I left home. I bought my first house. I bought many things. Gradually I also became aware that, in itself, this was not enough.
Life has changed for me since those early days. Jesus asked me to come away from all that. Money and possessions are a necessary part of life for me and this acquisitive aspect of my nature is still there. Like a jack-in-the-box or coiled snake, it sits waiting to pounce on the unsuspecting moment. It is deeply imbued within my psyche, a product of the lessons learnt from my formative years. So, as an addict in remission, I have lived one day at a time for many years under the care and guidance of my heavenly Counsellor. With God, one day at a time is enough in itself.
I had a picture this morning, of lots of little presents, wrapped up with individual nametags in a heap and all for me. When I receive them, and what they contain I will have to wait and see. What I do know is, they are good things given to me, with love from Him.
Matthew 7:11:- If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! (ESV)
Luke 6:38:- give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you. (ESV)
PRAYER: May You be pleased with the way we
treasure and share the gifts You have already given to us. LORD,
thank You for the gift of eternal life purchased for us at such a
cost. Praise You LORD for Your unfailing love and faithfulness to
us no matter where we have been or where we are today.
Thank You for Forgiveness. You always have good gifts for those
who ask because foremost, it is Your choice to redeem and to
give. Amen.
Psalm 18:28:- For it is you
who light my lamp; the LORD my God lightens my darkness.
(ESV)Matthew 6:22-23:- "The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! (ESV)
On a Monday, I start work at lunchtime and continue until 9pm. I try not to leave my getting ready to the last minute because I like to arrive at work without being in a state of stress. However, I attempt not to let this desire for organisation take up too much of my time, which is given over to doing chores, shopping or just relaxing.
Today, I wanted to give myself enough time not to be peddling through town flat out in my effort to arrive on time, as has sometimes been the case! In the event, I had time enough to sit down and read a little Bible before my departure. As I got up to leave, I was prompted from within that it was a Monday, and I would be riding home in the dark. This meant the need for packing my cycle lights, which I duly did.
Cyclists, who have no lights in the dark, cannot see potential dangers and are an unseen hazard to themselves and others. I think it can be fairly said, so too are those who are not in the Kingdom of God. Well intentioned, they can not only harm themselves but also leave others in their wake damaged or destroyed, without God's Light to guide them.
Through Jesus, we have God's Spirit to light our paths, to show the way, not only for ourselves, but also to provide a light for others to follow in our wake. We carry this hope of eternal life with us, in darkness or light wherever we go, because the desire of God's heart for His loved ones is to see us safely home.
I believe others in darkness see this light in us and are drawn to seek Grace's author. So, keep peddling, and check your batteries!
PRAYER: LORD, we rejoice that we find Hope and Light in You. In Your Mercy, as we once again come to You, grant us Your forgiveness and cleansing so that we might become acceptable vessels for Your light of Life in us today. Amen.
Psalm 95:7-8:- For he is our
God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his
hand. Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts, as
at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,
(ESV)I hope to reach the terminus of my Bible journey as I read from the book of Genesis towards Revelation. It has been a familiar task in the past, though, if I am honest, perhaps not so familiar to me now as it once was. Sporadically, I have shed some of the enthusiasm I once had when I first discovered that the prayerful reading of the pages of scripture revealed glimpses of God's nature.
Last night was one of those occasions. My problem was that I was not truly focused on the task: reading the Bible. My lack of prayerful preparation had prevented me from going deeper into the Word.
I can imagine the order ringing out from below: "Christian without prayer or preparation reading the Bible - send out the befuddlers!" They were to build on my folly by speaking a disparaging word or two to tell me that it was all a waste of my time.
In a reaction, a word from God rose up to the surface of my being. Found in Revelation 3:15, it was originally spoken to the Church of Laodicea, stored in my mind from an earlier reading. I was like them in danger, too cool in my attitude towards my God. Like them possibly no longer worthy of his Loving embrace. They had tolerated compromise and indifference in their relationship with God. Quickly, I went back into God's presence to offer a more focused heart and mind. There I found Him waiting.
I would like to think that He smiled approvingly, as a father, who sees in the action of his child, evidence they have heard and understood His call to Wisdom.
Psalm 95:7-8:- Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts … (ESV)
If unwittingly, like me, you find yourself with some apathy, hear the call to wisdom.
PRAYER: Lord, we rejoice that You are not the distant and indifferent God some would tempt us to believe in. Guide us, as we travel through today, encourage us to be whole-hearted for Your Kingdom trusting in Your Love. May Your Fragrance fill our being. Please promote in us a pleasing desire for Your Word today. Amen.
Isaiah 29:16b:- Shall the
potter be regarded as the clay, that the thing made should say of
its maker, "He did not make me"; or the thing formed say of him
who formed it, "He has no understanding"? (ESV)I stood in line, waiting, waiting, waiting: waiting but still no movement. The people in front and behind began to huff and puff, and gradually, they muttered various obscenities and moved off. For some reason I was quite happy to wait, having sublimed my frustration in an act of will and a curiosity to find the cause.
Further down the queue was a young man paying for some goods. "Nothing unusual in that," I thought.
By the time several people had decided to move on, I arrived at the third place in the queue and could now see the problem. The young man in question was paying for his bill in pennies, from a carrier bag full of pennies. Uncounted, unwrapped and, by the handful, he shovelled them out of the bag and dropped them loose onto the counter. "Sixty-seven, sixty-eight…One pound fifty, One pound fifty-one…" he muttered, glancing at the cashier and me with a certain amount of angst as he struggled to reach the total amount, still a long way off. A cloud formed and darkened over the cashier, her arms folded.
About three pounds worth of penny and two-penny coins into the event the cashier announced that she was not going to accept the money. The boy reposted: "it's legal tender." Eventually the supervisor came and decided that they would accept the money but the cashier was not to place the coins in the till. Six pounds later, I paid for my goods and walked out.
As I walked back to work I wondered how many of us, allow a cloud to form over us that estranges us from God's blessings because we have been too prescriptive, impatient or too blind to receive what has been freely given to us in Kingdom currency, little-by-little, handfuls at a time.
PRAYER: LORD, forgive us today for our
presumption. We have, all too often, told You, The Potter, how
You should be working in our lives and those of our loved-ones,
the clay.
LORD, we rejoice that You are sovereign in all things and in all
ways. You are the One who is able to hold, shape and care for all
of us according to Your greater purposes. We gladly receive what
You would give us today, in the Name of Jesus. Amen.
Psalm 121:5-8:- The LORD is
your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand. The sun
shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will
keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The LORD will
keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and
forevermore. (ESV) At church the other day, we had to squeeze in a few rows from the back behind a parent and two children. The youngest, a pre-school boy, was rather boisterous and demanding of the mother's attention, in contrast to the older well- behaved sister. Mum did her best to tolerate this child's ceaseless movement. He repeatedly banged his head on her arm, sprawled over her lap with his head facing upwards, as if swimming the backstroke and then asked for treats. These he scrunched up with glee.
Eventually he escaped her gentle, if rather tired grasp, to move a few rows in front to sit on a seat where another small child was snuggled up with her mum. She, in response to this interloper, ignored the distraction and moved to the window radiator that was not in use. He realised there was no fellow spirit here and bored, he relented, and returned to his mum.
From time-to-time, the boy looked at me, whilst I in return feigned indifference to his antics. This service did not suit young children because of the amount of talking going on which was too much for such small pent-up sparks of life like him. Glee sparkled through his eyes; he knew that he was loved and that his mum watched over him, he knew how to press her buttons, even if she did have a few choice words to share with him later!
I prayed that the mother would be at peace.
When I prayed for grace for the mother, I became aware that this little boy is often how the Father sees me in relationship with Him. It seems that I often try his patience poking, prodding and rushing off. I praise God for his forbearance and grace! I am glad that He still watches over me.
PRAYER: LORD, I thank You for Your forbearance
and patience with our childish antics, as we attempt to get our
own way, or Your attention for our concerns.
I am glad that we always have Your attention wherever we are and
whatever we do, You at least, are Faithful and Just.
Speak Your healing balm into our lives today by Your Holy Spirit
and Your living Word. Re-kindle a right spirit in us and keep us
close by Your side today, in the Name of Jesus. Amen.
Matthew 7:7-8:- "Ask, and it
will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will
be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who
seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
(ESV)On Mondays I work late, so I go in later. I start to prepare myself by anticipating what likely maelstrom may have occurred in my absence.
I prepare my tea, make my sandwiches and check my bag for my mug. Like a member of an aeroplane's cabin crew before take-off, I ask myself various questions and affirm that all is well with a mental "check."
I change my attire from the normal casual jeans to a work dress code. "Ok so far," I say to myself as I look in the mirror: "Hair washed - check"; "tie on and adjusted – check"; "shirt buttoned and not too creased – check"; "face – passable, if badly wrinkled – check" on and on it goes.
Part of the pre-work routine is to check for my identity card, which over the weekend usually resides in the back pocket of my trousers. Today I put my hand in the pocket and there it was: gone! All that was there was fresh air. "A good job I checked for it." I said to myself, as I grovelled about on the floor near to where my trousers were: "found it!"
Without my magnetic swipe card, I am unable to access the back entrance where I normally go into my computer room. It means a walk around to another entrance and long walks for rest breaks.
As I reflected on this event, I realised that we always have an open door into the Kingdom, here, now, today. Jesus is ever-present by the Holy Spirit, who resides within each Christian. He it is who activates the open door once we have asked Him in. We need never fear a closed door to the Father, all who forgive their fellow travellers and seek His face. It is that simple.
Revelation 3:8:- "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. (ESV)
PRAYER: LORD, I rejoice that You died to set us
free and rose again to show us the way You have provided to
eternal life by Your Word and Witness You have left with us.
Our LORD, come, show us the "open doors" You have for us today
whatever they may be and grant us the courage to walk with You
through them. We give You thanks and praise because, as we walk
with You, we will not be refused access. Amen.
Mark 10:16:- And he took
them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on
them. (ESV).On Sunday, at church, there was in front of me a Mum, dad and three girls. The smallest one clung to her dad's knee, so he bent down and picked her up. As she looked over his shoulder, she was flushed with the joy of her accomplishment. She smiled at the people in the rows behind as she hugged her dad close, secure in his arms and her success.
Next to dad was the second child, displaced by this interloper of a sister. Her eyes, unswerving, were transfixed as she looked at him longingly, as if to say: "What about me? Do not I get a hug too? That was once my place!"
The father sang whilst nurturing the younger sibling in his arms. He was aware of those eyes burning at his side. He reached out with his hand and, while smiling at her, returned her gaze. He stroked the child's cheek as if to say: "Do not worry Precious One you know that I love you and I know that you want to be up close here with me. Just for the moment, do not resent your sister's pleasure and love for me. Let her enjoy it now, even as you have done." The older sister was reassured and somewhat reluctantly, turned away without a word being spoken.
A voice somewhere inside said "You also, do not resent the joy of others when it appears I hold them closer to me. One day they will have to take their turn at my side. I know your heart and I know your deeds so let go of your doubts because I am with you, now and always. Have faith in my Love for you."
With me today, let go the doubts and remember our Father's Love for us in Jesus.
James 4:7-10:- Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. (ESV)
PRAYER: LORD, come to us and, by the blood of
Jesus shed for us, cleanse us, bless us and abide in us. As we
believe in Jesus, Your only Son, so we rejoice in this
sacrificial love that allows us access to Your throne.
LORD, we believe Jesus died to bring us close to You, so we ask
that You will draw close to us. We rejoice that You will touch
our inner doubts and fears by the power of the Holy Spirit today,
Amen.
Luke 9:62:- Jesus said to
him, "No one who puts his hand to the plough and looks back is
fit for the kingdom of God." (ESV)Have you ever driven a car and attempted to do something else at the same time: like change a tape, talk to child in the back seat, or look at a map? As soon as you take your eyes off the road, the car is in danger. Often we get away with it too!
On Sunday, I was asked how close am I to Jesus? The preacher used the example of the apostle John, the one who Jesus loved (cf. John 13:23 or 21:20). He was the one chosen by Jesus to comfort His mother at the crucifixion because he could be trusted to love and show compassion, the one who was fit to carry God's Revelation of the future for the world.
John knew Jesus because he kept his eyes fixed on the incarnate, and later the risen, Jesus. We can come to know Jesus by reading the Word daily, and by prayer. It keeps us forward-looking, ploughing our furrow straight into Life.
I believe this Jesus relationship is an open-ended offer for us to be with Him, one in the intimate group, because Jesus is ever-present: two-thousand years ago; today; and tomorrow. We too can rest in Jesus' presence and talk to Him in confidence because we have nothing to hide. It is our choice when it starts and finishes in His presence, even through the bus-I-ness we can be one with the Father and the Son via the Holy Spirit.
I try not to look over my shoulder or stretch my gaze to the horizon but I often fail. I wonder what might have been if I was not here.
However I know that today, if I will, I can commune with Jesus wherever I am.
John 17:20-23:- "I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. (ESV)
PRAYER: LORD, forgive our lack of faith. I am
so sorry that all too often I put other people, things, or good
ideas, or sleep, before resting in Your presence. Grant that we
may know Your saving Presence with us today. As we rest in You,
let us know Your Word and Love in our hearts, so we can be Your
ambassadors where we are.
LORD, as different as we are, we are all Yours. Please grant that
in all our diversity we will be ever looking forwards so that we
may see Your Kingdom come in us. Amen.
Luke 15:8-10:- Or what
woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not
light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she
finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her
friends and neighbours, saying, "Rejoice with me, for I have
found the coin that I had lost". Just so, I tell you, there is
joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.
(ESV)On my key ring apart from my keys, I have a penknife with assorted blades, screwdrivers and an adjustable spanner, a torch, a pair of travel scissors, a pen, and another smaller penknife, which is also a pair of pliers.
I wanted to use the pliers on my knife recently and, as I looked for it on the bunch, I discovered it was missing! I have hunted up and down, outside the house, in the street, outside work and around the house. I may have lost it, or it is possible I have removed both and not remembered where I put them.
Sadly, as I suspect, someone may have taken them off my keys as I usually leave them on my desk during the day with the door left unlocked. Several things have been taken around the site lately and we have been warned via the email to keep our doors locked.
As I write this, my wife said to me: "You are not still thinking about that knife are you?" It appears that I am! The words: "let it go…" come to mind. I bought a replacement last week but it is a newer model and not so quirky as the old one now defunct and missed. I mourn its passing, and the affront to my personal space. I acknowledge that it is only a thing and not important but it was mine for a while.
Last week, my memory was jogged as I looked for my knife, that Christ also looks out for us and I was reminded of the above parable. He knows where and who we are, faults and all. Nonetheless, He wants to cherish us His treasured possession, and someone in whom He rejoices as we seek Him. He will not give up on us.
PRAYER: LORD, we rejoice that You treasure us, brood over us, want to clean us up and pick us up out of the dirt of the day to hold us close once more. We give You thanks and praise that You hold the Keys of the Kingdom and nothing can detach us from Your Love. Have Your way with us today, shine Your Light into our being to illuminate our path and keep us safe, in the Name of Jesus. Amen.
Acts2:21:- And it shall come
to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall
be saved. (ESV).Memories - as you get older you acquire more of them, like barnacles hitching a ride on the smooth underside of a boat, they create eddies. For smooth running, we need cleaning off every now and then. Now the motor ticks over nicely but no more fast sprints with this hull! I digress.
I have various memories: some bad - that can haunt me and make me cry; some that recall situations I wish I could be allowed to change for the better; Some good - that make me laugh for a while and some that I would like to dwell in forever, if I were given the chance.
I am of an age where my face reflects who I am. It has relentlessly processed into what I have become, and likewise bears the marks of my memories. I guess you could say that my face is an advertisement for who I am. Like a cereal box on the breakfast table, my family can see what I hold within. It is written on the front label, my face. I aspire to have mine say: "Disciple of Jesus, all welcome" (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:16-21).
As your face reflects back from the bathroom mirror, what does it say? What would you have it advertise to those around you, those you love and those today you will meet for the first time?
I need to spend a little time with Jesus, to give Him my memories of the day, all of them - yes, especially that one. He delights in the good ones and cries alongside us with the bad ones. He will hold us safe in His arms as we invite Him into our past and visit them once more. His salve will see us through - New Life for old.
If we look into his face, we find it says "Free gift inside!"
Matthew 11:28-30:– Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (ESV)
Matthew 28:20:- …teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (ESV)
PRAYER: LORD, as we welcome You into our lives
today, bring Your healing to our memories. Please grant to us the
courage to bring to mind, that which is hidden within. As we
replay its remembrance together, hold us safe from harm, so that
by Your Grace it will no longer master us.
Today, LORD, guide us along the way to eternal life. Amen.
Psalm 139:1-4:- O LORD, you
have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when
I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my
path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even
before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it
altogether. (ESV)To keep abreast of my everyday communications, I store my email files on a flash memory stick. When I arrive at a computer, at home or at work, I plug it in and keep up- to-date with my correspondence.
The other day, I went into work on a Saturday and collected my emails because I wanted to avoid a backlog of emails on the Monday. When I got home, tragedy of tragedies, my email personal folder file had been corrupted - I think I had been too impatient in removing the stick from my computer. Not only had I lost the current unread email from the last few days I had been away, but I had also lost all the previous ones that I were kept for reference!
Fortunately, I had saved the file from the previous Friday onto my office machine — phew! All I needed to do now was to email those regular contacts I had seen an email from, but not read, and ask them to resend their emails. Therefore, I give my apologies to anyone, staff or readers, who have sent an email and not heard from me. Please send me another one!
Anyway, it made me reflect upon how too our minds and memories may sometimes become corrupted and unusable for God — mine is definitely faulty, occasionally. The odd compromise here, a little envy or a lie there - not to mention driving, TV and the like.
I understand that all these things, whether seen or unseen, encourage rebellious thoughts, which can make our minds an affront to the indwelling of God. Sin is sin.
Only one person is able to cleanse our thoughts and the desires of our minds — to replace our carnal nature with His Holiness, through an act of Grace — Jesus!
Memory update needed today?
Psalm 139:23-24:- Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! (ESV)
PRAYER: LORD, we rejoice that in you we have a safe place to renew our minds when they have become tainted. Please wash us clean once more in the blood of Jesus so that when we go into the world today the joy of the LORD will go with us, in Jesus' name, Amen.
Proverbs 19:21:- Many are the
plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD
that will stand. (ESV)We have moved house this year. This included a trip on the motorway up North in a van to collect some furniture. As we went on our way, I noticed trains of articulated-lorries (semis) nose-to-tail. Business was busy delivering. I know what busy looks like because I used to drive 45,000 miles a year.
On our way home, we saw a lorry that, amongst the business, had come to an abrupt halt at right angles to the carriageway. It crossed all three lanes, the hard shoulder and the central reservation (median) like a buffer for cars. As we sped past on the other side of the motorway, we saw the police looking on, pondering. Presumably, they were awaiting the necessary heavy lifting gear to remove the obstacle. The subsequent queue went on for several miles with no way out.
As we continued, I pondered the fate of those unknowing vehicle occupants driving into a blind alley. Like so many they were heading into a situation from which they would not be able to get out. In fact, the police had closed the preceding junction to divert the traffic. The motorway was already backed up with stationary vehicles that contained a thwarted involuntary assembly. They were going to be there for some time—until the lorry was removed.
Everyday situations stop our progress in the routine mêlée of the day, stop our careers or even stop our living. We, who had assumed so much, find ourselves rudely brought up short, unable to continue with what we could do yesterday without a second thought; faced with the prospect of a complete stop.
Maybe we were just too captivated by our preoccupations to see the signs?
Though we find ourselves unexpectedly postponed: God is with us and nothing can stop that--except our preoccupations!
PRAYER: LORD, we give You the glory and honour for You are the One and Only God who is able to deliver. Nothing can halt Your progress. Nothing can thwart Your purposes. You alone are worthy of our praise. Whatever diverts us from You now will one day be brought to an end. In Your Mercy LORD, capture our attention and speak into our lives Your illuminating Word. Amen.
Colossians 3:2:- Set your
minds on things that are above, not on things that are on
earth. (ESV)I have been to visit my parents, to help them with the preparation for their move to a smaller house, to lighten their workload. Whilst it is not urgent, I commend their willingness to face up to this chore as a necessary one.
They are now faced with the task, to give away or throw out, the things that have been accumulated over the last 60 years.
I visited the reclamation site with dad to shed some of the load. There were piles of people's discarded goods from anonymous pasts, recognisable to me once as new thirty or forty years ago, now sorted, piled up, crushed and flattened.
It made me reflective not to acquire some furniture as an anchor to cushion me from time. I have accepted one or two small things of great value to my mum and I, like my old teddy and a small pair of fire bellows made by my great- grandfather.
Forcibly I am reminded by my flat, of my own time for letting go of some of my possessions. The lesson has not been forgotten and I am grateful for it because, after Grace had worked out its miracle, I now travel lighter in spirit if not on the hoof.
I still have a little ways to go not to miss the benefits of the car, TV and bank account whilst I am here but, meanwhile, I cling on to what I have already gained in Jesus and endeavour to hold with a lighter touch that which I have in my hand.
Like the visit to the reclamation plant, I am called to let go of that which is no longer necessary within the Kingdom of Jesus.
Luke 12:24:- Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! (ESV)
PRAYER: LORD, deliver us from the weevils of avarice and covetousness of desire that eat away at our will to follow You whole-heartedly. Grant in us a pure heart with a willingness that might be prepared to say "yes" when You pass by us and bid us "follow me" today wherever that may lead us. Amen.
Luke 10:16-20:- "The one who
hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and
the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me." The seventy-two
returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to
us in your name!" And he said to them, "I saw Satan fall like
lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to
tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the
enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice
in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that
your names are written in heaven." (ESV) We have a collection of mugs at home. I take one to work everyday for my tea. They have various colours and cartoons portrayed on the outside. Some are to amuse, some are to look pretty and some are to advertise a product, but they all perform the same task I have for them. I appreciate the role that they carry out for me, never more so than when I forget to bring one in to work and I have to resort to my spare that faithfully lurks at the back of my desk drawer!
In a different context, I have thought of myself as being a bit of a mug, perhaps because others have prospered, moved up, or exploited the opportunities that have come their way, when I have been called to walk a different path.
I believe, as Christians, we are called to be God's carriers, to be filled up and poured out where and when He wills. We are treasured, not for what we look like or advertise on the outside, but for what we carry inside us, His Holy Spirit in fellowship with ours.
As others have said, it may only be shown what we are truly filled with when our vessels are tilted a little, as we collide with the stuff of life and what is inside becomes manifest by what spills over the outside of the vessel.
Perhaps this analogy is to play down or manage what we carry within. Jesus wanted his disciples not to marvel at the wonders alone, performed in the name of Jesus and the authority of God, but to be aware of the treasure that they carried within: Their affiliation in the Kingdom of God. This would last forever, long after the vessel had faded away into dust.
PRAYER: Lord, keep our eyes focused on You today. From the excursions of the world into us in the past, cleanse our lives. Thank You LORD, that You chose us to be Your vessels and You continue to choose us to carry Your Good News and authority into the world. Amen.
Exodus 36:1:- Bezalel and
Oholiab and every craftsman in whom the LORD has put skill and
intelligence to know how to do any work in the construction of
the sanctuary shall work in accordance with all that the LORD has
commanded. (ESV)Recently I passed by a music shop and saw a left-handed guitar on display inside. New left-handed guitars are comparatively rare, so I wandered in and played it. Later on, I bought it, along with an acoustic pick-up.
With some drilling and gluing, I adapted the guitar to accommodate the electrics inside, together with new parts for the lead. Then I sat down to tune the guitar and found, to my dismay, that it was still not right. However, the guitar had a good tone, so rather than take the guitar back I set about modifying the bridge.
It was at this point, with the guitar in pieces on the kitchen work-surface, that I began to question the wisdom of what I was doing - chiselling out a hole in the new guitar – angels, fools and fearing-to-tread came to mind - and my wife's wrath!
I had assumed, after prayer and discussion with Caroline, it was the will of God, as well as mine, to buy the guitar, so it was at this point I wondered: why was all this work necessary on a new guitar? Something inside told me not to worry. Instead, I should recognise that I had been given the skills to take this guitar and refine it to become something better, and of increased value because of its greater capability to make a joyful noise.
This thought bubbled to the surface of my consciousness: Jesus has paid the price for us Christians in full. He has already commenced the work of modifying our original flawed creation into His harmonious instruments of praise.
In the Body of Christ, some successes are blatant miracles. Others are no less due to God breathing life into the Church here on Earth, but they are cloaked by their context of practical gifts used daily and often taken for granted.
Ephesians 4:4-7:- There is one body and one Spirit -just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call - one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. (ESV)
PRAYER: LORD, forgive us our failings and open
our eyes to see Your touch on our lives. We rejoice in Your gift
of Life granted to us, and ask for the skills and wisdom to
fulfil what it is we have been called to do.
Lead us on into a greater understanding of what it means to be
Your hands and feet here on Earth day-by-day. Amen.
Ezekiel 11:19-20:-
And I will give them one heart, and a new
spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone
from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may
walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they
shall be my people, and I will be their God. (ESV) With a new baby, and a wreck of a house I have a tendency to be focused on the job to be done: it is easy to do. Consequently, I am task orientated, with a noticeable sense of satisfaction when a task is done. However, as I get older, slow down a little bit, and gain more in life experience, I have with some limited success, tried to see the bigger picture. To realise that my family’s well-being comes first; yes, even before the tasks.
I have an old electric hover mower. A bit like me, it was a little weary. So tired in fact, the motor no longer had enough power to lift and cut properly. When online recently I noticed an old broken mower (20+yrs), but newer than mine, was up for free collection.
So I eagerly collected this old reject and, once home, I removed the motor. It unscrewed and came out of the housing without a hitch. Then, as I returned to my old thing I found the screws were so rusted and worn out by damp that the heads had gone and could not be removed.
What could I do? I would have to perform major surgery on the plastic around the screws to cut around their mountings. It was a once-only chance. Eventually by God’s Grace, I successfully managed it, and the replacement one slotted in perfectly.
Now I have a mower that cuts the grass, not feebly but with gusto! I rejoiced; only to find like Jonah and the shading plant, God was using this to get my attention. Maybe I needed a new heart - one that is not primarily focussed on Martha type things and doing, but on God and people? God is willing to give me, and you, an opportunity to have that new start today!
PRAYER: LORD, create in us a new heart: to be a Kingdom people and gain a sense of Kingdom purpose for us today. Let us not become indifferent like stone, or get tired in the world, but rather grant in us a new heart, to sing Your praises: to rise up on wings like eagles once more, because in Jesus we are Your people and You are our God, amen.
1 John 2:15-17:-
Do not love the world or the things in the
world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not
in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the
flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in
possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.
And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever
does the will of God abides forever. (ESV) For my summer holiday my wife and I spent some time in the Waternish peninsular, on the Isle of Skye. The roads become single track, with passing spaces at regular intervals.
Every passing space has a post aside the road with a diamond sign on top of a post. Unsurprisingly enough, these signs declare: Passing Space. This way anyone can see from a distance, and in the gloom, where there is enough extra width to pull off the main track and allow someone to pass by. That is to say, without getting off-track, sinking into the deep ditches, peat or smashing the car onto a hidden rock or two, of which there are plenty. As an added hazard, the ubiquitous smattering of sheep sit anywhere they feel warm, dry and comfortable. They can be in groups in the middle of the road around a corner, or in these passing spaces.
One day Caroline and I went off exploring. On the way I noticed a passing place sign that was different to all the others. Some wag had skilfully removed the letters: p, a, s and g from the sign. This particular sign now read: sin Place. Maybe they knew something I did not, or possibly it was someone with too much time, and idle hands?
Anyway it provoked this thought that dawdling on our journey overlong in stopping places, for reasons other than to help others by, is not good. There is a danger in dawdling in a place too long, when it has become a distraction from the imperative to seek first the Kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33).
Maybe the sign was not so daft after all? Yes, it is right to stop sometimes. However, let us heed the voice of our Master to keep on track as he calls us to keep on, keeping on.
PRAYER: LORD, we are Your sheep, and we ask in
the name of Jesus, for Your forgiveness for when we have dawdled
or cast our gaze elsewhere, distracted by the warmth, or
discomforts, we have gone astray.
Once more guide and encourage our footsteps along the narrow road
so that we are no longer side-tracked by life’s little
quirks, or where we have come from, amen.
Luke 2:29-32:- “Lord,
now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to
your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have
prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation
to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel."
(ESV)Recently, as Caroline and I did our weekly round in the local supermarket, I noticed an elderly man lingering at the end of a row of shelving and I thought this waiting was a bit odd. Maybe he was frail and had agreed to stay there so his partner could find him again after retrieving something elsewhere in the store; who knows?
Later, I returned to that part of the store for some bread. There was the man who had been patiently waiting, picking up custard tarts, bread and other bakery sundries, all at a reduced price. Apparently he had known the time when price reductions for daily perishable bakery goods are carried out, and waited for the staff. As I was there anyway, I took full advantage and bought a multi-pack of custard tarts too.
Subsequently, when we were at a checkout I saw the man again, and with a solitary carrier bag filled with his reduced price sundries, he left the store alone.
This man’s patience reminded me of Simeon who, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, knew something advantageous was about to happen. He was not waiting for a mere morsel; he waited for the one who would later call himself The Bread of Life so that he could rest in peace. That is all we know about the man who disappeared into obscurity and then heaven.
We have the advantage of knowing the outcome for the consolation of Israel, and the Gentiles, because we read it in the Bible. Let us take full advantage of the Grace shown in Jesus and, waiting patiently, immerse ourselves. Maybe we too before God, and at the right time, will be able to perceive Emmanuel - God with us - in our everyday life before we depart to heaven?
PRAYER: LORD, we rejoice that you have been patiently waiting for us to find you. We ask that we might be forgiven our sins and, looking forward, once more dwell in your presence. LORD, grant us eyes and minds to perceive, and ears to hear what you are saying to your people today, because we ask it in the Name of Jesus, amen.
Matthew 22:37-39:- And he
said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your
heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the
great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall
love your neighbour as yourself. (ESV) Whilst on a journey south in USA a Christian friend told me this riddle:
Q. Why do they put curtains on the windows of hearses?
A. To stop the men looking out!
I guess it is just a humorous way of explanation to Southern Belles, new and old ones, how strong is a man’s natural instinct to admire the roses! Here in Cheltenham, I find that women are just as keen to notice their counterparts! For ultimately we are created for relationship with God and humanity (Matthew22:37-39), so we need to keep and grow the wholesome good relationships and resist the bad ones day-to-day.
However, it is not always possible to avoid some relationships because it is a part of the professional environment in which I work. Like it or not, I have to get along with my neighbour! Consequently, as soon as I remember the need I quietly put on the armour of God (See Ephesians chapter 6). I do not, and as someone who is so frail ought to, put it on at the beginning of every single day!
Recently, I put on the armour of God, knowing I was going to be peopled out. To my dismay I realised that the armour was now on, but it was already too late, I was empty of God! I had allowed in behind my armour a focus that was not on God it was on people. I was trusting in self and not God, so I invited God to reign sovereignly in my heart and to walk with me again.
Now I had someone who was able to do what I could not: withstand all spiritual assaults. I rejoiced and gave thanks for Jesus in me. (See Colossians chapter 3)
Peace at last!
PRAYER: LORD, we rejoice that You are willing to come in and dwell with us, to get with the mess and clean us up. It is a mystery that You chose to dwell with us, but it is one that we are very grateful for, especially when we are found to be wanting in our own humanity. Thanks LORD, amen.
1 John 1:9:- If we confess
our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (ESV)I have bought a second-hand car recently. When I put my foot on the accelerator the engine just died — aarrgh! The garage salesperson assured me that it would be fixed before collection because it was through the manufacturer's main dealer. They promised to repair any faults over the next year.
I had had the car all of twenty-four hours when it happened again on my way home on the motorway. It had a problem with an oxygen sensor in the exhaust pipe. According to the chief mechanic, the previous owner had been using cheap petrol that did not contain the detergents needed to keep the sensor clean, which other proprietary brands had as an ingredient. Consequently, over time the oxygen sensor had become clogged. In the car's handbook, it clearly states that, because of the engine's advanced sensors, standard petrol without the additives just would not do.
As I sat down to write a devotional today, this experience just pushed its way to the forefront. Daily I am tempted to engage in the thoughts, if not the actions, of the world that seem to appeal to my worldly nature. A little concession here, a little compromise there, a big fat lie there — it won't hurt — no real harm done, and so it goes on.
Like my car, after the passage of time, our spiritual sensors become clogged up and are rendered useless by all this giving-in to the world's easy-way-out options that seem to cost us less in the short-term but big time in the longer view.
I believe Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit, works like a detergent through our lives to clean off the dirt and self-centredness by which non-heavenly influences have daily attempted to ingrain themselves. The manual says: be honest and put Jesus first.
PRAYER: LORD, yet again I come to you sheepish and fallen trusting not in who I am but in Your manifold Grace. LORD, cleanse us and renew our hearts so that we find you there at the point of need in the world into which we go today. Amen.
Psalm 84:3-7:- Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for
herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O LORD of
hosts, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your
house, ever singing your praise! Blessed are those whose strength
is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. As they go
through the Valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the
early rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to
strength; each one appears before God in Zion. (ESV) I walked into the town centre for my lunch break, at dusk, on my late night at work this week. I noticed a row of trees covered with tobacco-brown leaves ready to drop. I thought about how many times I had walked through the pedestrian precinct not really noticing the trees. I walked on automatic pilot.
It was only the noise of the birds that drew my attention to the trees.
I looked up to watch and I expected to see hundreds of starlings making a raucous noise. However, much to my surprise, the trees were full of pied wagtails with not a starling in sight. As I looked closer they were all along the gutters of the bordering buildings. They flitted to and fro, off the gutters and onto the trees, with a more melodic sound they came together, watched out for one another and vied for who was king of the castle!
One often sees pied wagtails, in ones and twos, around the countryside and in the gardens but I have never seen them roost together as a colony before in the middle of town. Obviously they found safety and comfort in being together.
How about us?
Are we feeling alone, just in ones and twos, or are we aware that we are a part of a great multitude of chosen people set apart to come together? One day we will find rest, companionship and harmony as a part of the great multitude of witnesses in heaven. Meanwhile, we need to be a part of the great multitude of disciples on earth at church and at home. To look after one another, encourage each other to run the race to win, and to testify to His goodness watching over us, a place of safety in our daily lives.
PRAYER: LORD, no matter where we are, or what our circumstances may be, You are always with us watching out for us, as we rest in Your protective care. LORD, we often find ourselves alone in ones and twos and isolated, please show us the way back to your throng of worshippers today, in Jesus name, amen.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20:- Or
do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit
within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you
were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
(ESV)Often I go for a walk at lunchtime to allow my brain to be refreshed from the mêlée of students and computers, as well as giving my eyes a rest from the screen.
Today the streets were dirty and slippery in places due to the mixture of slush and grit put down after a brief spell of snow. The potential danger underfoot made me more mindful of where I was walking, as the hospitals have had a rush of broken wrists, arms, collarbones etc.!
I passed by the church in the centre of town where there was a couple sitting under cover of an overhang feeding the pigeons. Because of their regular good intentions, the pigeons showed no fear to congregate in tens, twenties, and sometimes even in hundreds. Like a mumbling carpet of grey and white, they advanced on the knowing and unwitting alike. This was to the consternation of mums with small toddlers, who were swamped by the mob's demand for food.
The ground on which the two old-timers sat was covered with the fallout from this mass of birds near the church. It made me think about this verse:
Matthew 21:12:- And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. (ESV)
I reflected upon all that we allow into our temples that are our bodies, which are just a part of everyday life for us. All of that accumulated mess and noise drowns out the presence and voice of God in us. All this worldliness can frighten off the little children of faith who look to us as an example.
I believe Jesus can get angry about what is in our temples, too. He does not want clutter and an unholy noise in what is a Holy Place to Him.
PRAYER: LORD, we are sorry, we made a mess of it again, not putting You and Your priorities first. We give You permission to clear out and put straight all that is not right within. May Your voice take priority in our lives as we worship You wherever we are today and we ask that You grant us Your Peace. Amen.
Matthew 12:43-45:- When the
unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through
waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, 'I
will return to my house from which I came.' And when it comes, it
finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and
brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and
they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is
worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil
generation. (ESV)Today as I walked back from town, I noticed some wire netting that covered over a large circular window. The netting was put there to stop the pigeons, from being able to perch on the ledges. Many businesses spend thousands of pounds installing such preventative measures, to cut down the nuisance that these pigeons cause. However, in the centre of this particular piece of wire netting was a hole about as big as a man's outstretched hand.
Perched on the wire in the middle of this space, was a pigeon looking out! My eyes focused on the window ledge behind the netting and I noticed that there was another pigeon roosting. I admired the opportunism of these birds that had exploited what was a secure resting place protected by wire and in the shelter of a window ledge.
As I continued my journey, I contemplated how hard it would be for someone to remove these birds now so well installed into their roost. From the recesses of my mind, I remembered the verses above.
Regardless of how hard I try, I manage to let something in, past my guard, because I am not made perfect. Like whoever made a hole in the wire for the pigeons to get in, I allow things that should not be entertained past the doors of my heart. Sometimes it is through fear, sometimes through lust, sometimes through weakness and laziness, sometimes because of curiosity. No matter how it gets there, God is willing to uninstall it. All I need to do is come into His presence in humility and ask forgiveness. Yes, I feel embarrassed and ashamed at how easily I have been caught out again but I would rather trust in God's mercy, because He is always proved trustworthy, than I end up in a worse state!
PRAYER: LORD, here we are again, red faced and sheepish, like the children that we are in Your eyes. Have mercy upon us, pardon and deliver us from our sin and evil. Grant that we might serve You once more in the newness of life that comes only from receiving Your Grace. Amen.
Matthew 14:31:- Jesus
immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to
him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" (ESV)I regularly find myself distracted, detained or sidetracked by the World, often because I am materialistic. It is a hard thing to be like me - in the world but not of it. Who wants to be a millionaire? I do - until I remember I cannot take it with me and that I have been distracted from God's purposes. He calls out to me not to take my eyes off Him and to recall His capacity for the outrageous and miraculous and not always the ordinary!
I have, through my life known the joy of being treated with acceptance and companionship, and I have also known times and situations to the contrary. When the World, and its menu of self-centredness, squeezes my spirit, I cry out to Jesus to deliver me before I am swamped.
As I move in the will of the Kingdom, my spirit rejoices in my Sustainer and Deliverer. However, experience has shown me that I am still two persons in one body. Whilst I rejoice in one part of my being, yet with another, I am filled with dismay. I guess it is all a part of being human, spirit and flesh, having faith, yet still living with some doubt that must be given to God's care. I gain encouragement from the accounts of Peter, Jacob and Joseph, because I see in their life struggles encouragement for my own.
Some people have great moments of clarity that change their life, whilst for others these are but a moment's fancy that soon pass. Such are life's choices: to see or not; to have faith or to doubt; to believe or not.
For those who are able to see and believe, Jesus has a perfect plan for each, to lift us up and out from the waves!
Isaiah 40:31:- but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (ESV)
PRAYER: LORD, thank You that You miss nothing and are ready to greet us once more at the beginning of the day. Thank You that You watch over us and protect us whilst we are vulnerable or incapable. Thank You that no one slips through Your Omniscience. Thank You that You do not pass by on the other side. Grant us, once more, Your Grace to lift us up today and lead us on. Let us hear Your call to us once more and not be distracted by the waves of life today. Amen.
Psalm 36:7:- How precious is
your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge
in the shadow of your wings. (ESV)I have a waterproof jacket that I use to go walking and riding to work in. I bought it for my birthday two years ago. It is lightweight and specifically made for the task. Consequently, I thought it rather atypical that, whilst it had two zip pockets for the bits and bobs of life, it had no map pocket - A large pocket for putting your map in to keep it safe, dry and accessible.
The other day, whilst in the process of unzipping the front of the jacket I noticed a small hole next to the zip. As is my boyish way, I thrust my finger into the hole and made it worse by pulling at the seam. Imagine my surprise when I realised that the jacket was not faulty. It was a Velcro fastening for the opening to a large map pocket, which was on the left hand side of the zip!
Recently I went to a centre for Christian healing, a Friday morning communion service that they have specifically for the task of prayer. The vast majority of the attendees had completed a substantial part of their journey here on earth already. In fact more than a few I suspect were in their last mile. Several I knew to be long retired ministers.
I asked the question: how are they doing, now that they are becoming frailer and free from their official burden? Straight away, I was reminded of my jacket's map pocket. Along with it came the thought that God cherishes each one and keeps us safe, carried with Him, close to His heart, like being in His map pocket, until that time of relocation to continue in new circumstances free from the weathering of the frailties of this age. So, no need to worry!
PRAYER: LORD, We rejoice that as we believe in You so each and every one of us is special to You. You brood over us like a hen and her chicks. You hold us close to the centre of Your being. Forgive us when we do not remember this truth. Please grant that we may find and recognise Your freedom from strife in our hearts as we continue to travel together, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Matthew 18:12-14:- What do
you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them has gone
astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go
in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly,
I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine
that never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is
in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
(ESV). I have suffered from a case of a downwardly mobile vicious circle. Stress enables me to be caught up in the this-worldly desires-of-the-flesh, it does not matter what they were or should I admit, are and will be again? This is something "super" Christians like us do not wish to admit. We know better than to be caught up in the spider's web of the Dark Side! Of course we do, because we know others rely on our faithfulness.
Filleted, smoked and dried like a kipper by the flames: there are no "super" Christians. Whatever our weakness may be, it will become the playground of the Evil One - given half a chance - and he is waiting for us wilfully to take control of our lives. As we do, the voice comes: "Do it now, just let go, no-one will know…."
I ask the question far too often: Did I, or did I not, give my life to Jesus: then why am I struggling so hard to take back its sovereignty? There you have the problem, I am not where I would like to be, centred with God in my mind, because my emotions and heart are off elsewhere! It could be life, death, jobs, health, friends, possessions etc. - anything we want to lay hold of without God!
Not expecting to fail is a mirage. Not wanting to fail is being human. Last time I looked, we are all just that! Only Grace enables entry into the Kingdom and repentance with Grace grants the authority to break the hold of selfish desires that would otherwise separate our minds and our beings from the love of God.
It is good to be back! Thank you Jesus. No matter what comes I know you are right here, waiting to reign in my heart and mind.
Luke 15:20:- And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. (ESV)
PRAYER: LORD, sometimes I need a nudge, a push, a set of reigns to restrain me. Whatever it is I need LORD, today I give You permission to do it because I know that You always want the best for me. Help me to see past the end of my own nose and trust You. Amen.
Mark 4:26-29:- And he said,
"The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the
ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts
and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first
the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when
the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the
harvest has come." (ESV)I prepared some potatoes for boiling before going to church. I thought it might speed the process of lunch on our return, in the event of a delay.
These potatoes had been left out until yesterday because the refrigerator drawer was too full to fit them in when the shopping was done on Tuesday. In our new abode, there is an open shelf next to the refrigerator and this is where the potatoes had lain since then, basking in the light from the kitchen window.
When I took the drawer out this morning the potatoes had all grown eyes! As I trimmed the growth off to prepare for cooking, the following thought came to mind:
Just as potatoes grow eyes to shoot and to root in response to light that is shed on them, we too, those who have the perspicacity, are drawn to the light of the Kingdom of God and take root and shoot in the Light of Jesus.
I believe life, growth and bearing fruit is all a part of God's authorship and plan: throughout the micro or macro ecosystems of His creation, it is plain to see. Like a stick of candy-rock that has through its core a message, creation has the message of Life, if you have a mind to look for it.
There are many dark places in the world where there is no light or growth, no desire to see. Those that have not seen the Light, disregarded it or have had its influence seared, have been left dormant by the world, awaiting their destruction.
Jesus has called us to be messengers of light, agents for His Good News of Grace. Like windows in the dark shroud of existence, we can be an opening for God's Light to shine and encourage New Life.
PRAYER: LORD, we rejoice that You died to set us free from the snares of sin and destruction. Cleanse us once more, lest our light become darkness and we forget You are the Author of Life. Empower us so that Your Light touches the lives You bring along side us today. Amen.
1 Timothy 4:16:-
Keep a close watch on yourself and on the
teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both
yourself and your hearers. (ESV) I have been a witness to some extraordinary moves of God in my lifetime but, as said, they were extraordinary. Like many I live, bound up in life’s issues day-to-day, coping with the curve balls that speed my way. I have not been saved from life’s shortcomings, as I might be tempted to believe I deserve, so I just keep moving on.
With the arrogance and curiosity of being wilful I stopped looking to Jesus and looked over the edge of the Narrow path where safety lies. Out of nowhere arose inner-conflict, a disparity between what I know to be true and what were my expectations for God’s will. As I teetered on the edge I looked, and it seemed to be a long way down. Like a party balloon that has hung too long, neglected on a wall, the life in me became limp. I had been distracted by life, from seeing my saviour’s love.
For me this has physical consequences, the signs of a stress shutdown in progress! Before my mind went into total hibernation I knew I could do only one thing to redirect my steps back to higher ground.
By prayer and a very little faith, I reached out once more to Jesus, my Rock leaving the presumptions for His will for me behind. Gradually, the preoccupation about life’s unsatisfactoriness diminished because I knew in my heart that His steadfast Love had brooded over me all the time. Inside I imagined He smiled reproachfully, as I stepped back from the edge of the abyss and once more focused in faith on His love.
It took a further day for my body to function normally and to live in that faith. So let our eyes be centred on Jesus, and keep watch, because life is difficult enough!
PRAYER: LORD enable us to see Your priorities
for our lives more clearly looking forward and direct us in the
way we should go. May we be vessels of faith, light and hope, not
broken pots, because we go in the Name of Jesus.
LORD, we lift up to You those who are not able to make this
necessary step of faith yesterday, or today. Enable them to break
through their situations and find that You have loved them all
along. May You soften their hearts so that they might receive the
warmth of Your Love, and find that they are no longer alone, in
the Name of Jesus, amen.
Luke 15:10:- Just so, I tell
you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who
repents." (ESV) Since the events of September 11th., I have struggled with a sense of impatient frustration with God's work through me: but pride is a dangerous thing.
The Kingdom of God is one of action in love, to reach the lost, bind up the broken hearted and encourage the saved whilst we have the opportunity. It is not my strength that will achieve this! Zechariah (4:6) says:-
Then he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts (ESV).
So this year in response we have moved on in quest of my saviour's call to go where we are led.
We have come upon the present church where we will stay a while.
This is a great joy for me after wondering, what next? There has been a heaviness within that has not gone away, after prayer, for any length of time. On Sunday, I realised what it was that had influenced my inner-self. It was a resentment that we have not yet acquired what I had expected for us as a family from God. It had put a distance between my heart and God and this had damaged my mind.
During the Sunday, service I became aware that this could not be fixed by me alone, and the only way this was going to be sorted was to ask for prayer, which I did. As we prayed, I had a picture of taking a step forward. The pastor asked me to take a physical step forward as he prayed.
In the past I would have thought this action unnecessary but the picture I had just before, and previous experience, has taught me sometimes it is better just to do what is being asked of you, as long as it is harmless. Obedience is the key! The heaviness has gone!
2 Kings 5:9-14:- So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha's house. And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean." … …So he turned and went away in a rage. But his servants came near and said to him, "My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, 'Wash, and be clean'?" So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. (ESV)
PRAYER: LORD, thank You that You do not treat us as our sins deserve. Speak with us, speak through us today, and enable us to recognise the Wisdom of God when we hear, see or read it. Grant us the knowledge of how and when to apply it to our lives, and the courage to act on it. Amen.
John 6:37:- All that the
Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will
never cast out.. (ESV) Dyslexia does funny things with my perception of the written word on the page. I am, in some manner, cross-wired in the head. This makes the cost of reading high and the desire to put our thoughts down on paper can become diminished by the accumulation of frustration and negative experience during our formative years. Seldom, if ever, can we put down what is in our heads at our first go unless it is very short, but even this is no guarantee. I have re-written this paragraph more than several times already!
For others like me, school has been a miserable time because we have been labelled as careless, messy, thick, lazy etc.. It gives us a different view of life. We see differently and sometimes through acquired experience, we see more clearly and perceive more of life than others.
Years ago I became a teacher for a short while. It was good to finally come to terms with dyslexia, what it is and what it means for me but is even better to find others like me out there in cyber-space.
Praise God for the rise of the IT world, for spell and grammar checkers, for which I am eternally in its debt. For without the aid of computers I would never have come this far!
I wrote an email to a fellow dyslexic today. It made me think about all those of us out there who are carrying burdens and disabilities through no fault of our own. Nobody may be to blame.
To know that God, in Jesus, loves each one of us spurs me on for the Kingdom of God. For no matter where we have been, what I look like, or what the world says or does I am loved: yes even you and me!
John 10:14:- "I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me," (ESV)
John 8:51:- "Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death." (ESV)
PRAYER: LORD, I thank You for Your
acceptance.
We rejoice in Your life-giving salvation, to know You is to know
eternal life. We ask You into our lives again, to receive Your
eternal acceptance, no matter who, or where, we are.
Welcome to my life, walk with us and be with us today. Show us
Your way so that we can walk in it. Protect and heal us from the
hard word. Amen.
John 14:27:- Peace I leave
with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I
give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be
afraid. (ESV)It was a warm sunny day and the Bank Holiday weekend was on the way. Cars filled the roads in both directions on the ring road. There was an air of anticipation at the supermarkets as people rushed in to queue up to buy the last minute provisions needed for the next few days. It is always the same before national vacations.
I returned to the courtyard, of our mid-nineteenth century college, and I was struck by the tangible stillness of this old quadrangle. Everyone else was absent, so temporarily I was alone. This was in pleasant contrast to all that rushing about and confrontation going on outside the gates.
Peace. It is good to have peace of mind. I have been too busy for too long, with one thing and another recently so that I have not been able to be, if truth were told, peaceful. I have been preoccupied with life.
I awoke in the middle of the night recently, in a state of distress only to find that my logical thinking was making it worse. Down, down, down I seemed to go with all my frenetic mental commotion - like a lead weighted parcel. As my descent picked up speed, I realised that my journey downwards was too fast and too far to get back up on my own. Hence, in my anxiety of mind, I cried out to Jesus: "Help!"
To my surprise and relief, the reply was immediate and significant. The immanent presence of Jesus had stopped my descent into darkness. It was as if I were that parcel. He removed the lead weights that had pushed me downwards unwrapped my mind and lifted me back to what, for me, passes as normality and I went back to sleep. Thank You LORD for Your Peace.
PRAYER: LORD, when we take for granted Your
desire for us to know better Your Peace, please forgive us. We
often take our sleep for granted, except when we cannot achieve
it! We thank You LORD for all the times that we have slept and
not considered Your brooding presence that has watched over us,
unasked. When we cannot sleep, You are only a simple prayer
away.
LORD, as we welcome You into our lives once more today may we in
turn rest in Your tender care. Amen.
Genesis 9:13:- I have set my
bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between
me and the earth. (ESV).Have you ever seen some phenomenon in nature that could have been put there just for you?
Years ago I was awaiting the end of term, the end of my time in school and my exam results. I was more than 200 miles away from home and still some way away from God. However, I suspected that He was about there somewhere, watching over me.
One summer's night I looked towards the orange-grey haze of the evening horizon and wondered.
As some "what if's" passed through my mind, my eyes saw briefly a shooting star. Maybe this was just a trick of the eye but it was so unusual I decided it must be a good omen. I do not know why. Then I asked the question: Can God talk to me through nature? Weeks later I found that, one of the "what if's" I had pondered that twilight, had come true: co-incidence?
Neither of my parents are Christians. They do not see the need for God. They believe they will die and decompose. I love them more than I can say but it would appear that my discussions with them about my Saviour and His Love for them have been a waste of time.
After one visit to see them a few years ago, I was driving back home when I saw a rainbow. Something inside said to me this rainbow was to be, for me, a reminder. It was as if God had said: "Rod, listen, I have heard your prayers and everything is in hand. Now trust in me for your parents." I had such a peace in my heart that tears rolled down my cheeks.
Have you ever gone looking for a full rainbow? They are a lot harder to find than you might at first think.
PRAYER: LORD, You are the Alpha and Omega and the Good Shepherd. You hold the keys to Death and Hades and You delight in little children. You know the number of the hairs on our head and the cares of our innermost being. In Your awesomeness, have mercy on us LORD and this day forgive us our failures. Into Your care and great compassion, we lift our loved ones before You today. LORD, hear our prayers. Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-21:- Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (ESV)
Isaiah 35:10:- And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come
to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall
flee away. (ESV)Along my way to work today I rejoiced in God as my saviour. I was happy. Maybe it was because I love my wife and family? Maybe it was because I have a long awaited holiday around the corner at the end of next week? Maybe it was because it was an act of my will, or just maybe it was a blessing from God?
This clever brain of mine, yes, despite appearances, it has enough cells left to tie itself up in conundrums, started to go through the implications of being happy. Being happy is definitely good.
As my mind processed the benefits of being happy it posited the following question. Maybe it is just a trick of the psyche? Maybe God's influence on me is just illusory or serendipity? Perhaps, if I concentrate on being peaceful hard enough, I can be happy anyway?
Then, in a flash, I was aware that this knowledge and reason was about to rob me of a precious gift that had just been asked for in prayer a few moments earlier!
Nehemiah 8:10b:- …And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." (ESV)
All good things come from God. I had just prayed for the oil of gladness to be poured over us, and to put on a garment of praise. It was, in fact, the act of praising God that was the root cause of my happiness, not my brain! God had blessed me with this asked for joy and gladness - silly me.
I believe it is God's compassion to join in with any ransomed of the LORD, to cast off sorrow and to clothe us with gladness and joy. He has paid the price.
It is outrageous, possibly, and unreasonable, definitely.
So, ask anyway!
PRAYER: LORD, we rejoice that you came to set the ransomed free. We ask for freedom and reconciliation for all those who call upon Jesus. So LORD, pour out Your Spirit upon us that, wherever we are in the world, a song of Your praises will fill our hearts, bodies and minds to Your praise and glory, amen.
Matthew 7:7-8:- Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will
find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks
receives, and to the one who seeks finds, and to the one who
knocks it will be opened. (ESV) I thank God for the knowledge that He has given, and the wisdom that He has enabled, for the medical profession.
A few weeks ago my wife was in hospital for a minor operation, and I did not like being there. This is rather strange when you consider what God has said and done to bless us when we have been there previously!
I guess it betrays how far my faith has not yet truly permeated down from my brain to live in my heart. The world gets in and impedes the process because I like to be the one in control. I do not do bravado convincingly, which any turn on a fast fairground ride will show: much to my wife’s amusement when we were courting!
As we waited for her to go to theatre, previous memories came flooding back and I let the fear of the “what if’s” tie a knot in my stomach.
As I reached out to God in prayer a picture formed in my mind. It was of a child in an imaginary cubicle nearby. The child was afraid and upset. As I looked more intently I became aware that Jesus stood there with this child. Suddenly it was me standing there, just the two of us, so I prayed for Jesus’ authority to minister. As I reached out and touched this child to convey His peace the warmth of His presence washed through me.
I became quite emotional as I realised the child in the picture was in reality me! As His presence washed through me so the blockage between my head and my heart was removed. I knew God was there with us.
God is always with His people, wherever that may be, whatever the outcome, we just have to believe.
PRAYER: LORD, we are mortified that we find ourselves once more knowing, but not trusting in, Your great Love and Care. Be with us today and grant us not only the knowledge of Your Love and Kingdom but also the wisdom to make it real in us and those You take us to today, in the Name of Jesus, amen.
Acts 9:17-18:- Brother Saul,
the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came
has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with
the Holy Spirit." And immediately something like scales fell from
his eyes, and he regained his sight. (ESV)Galatians 1:10:- For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. (ESV)
During the move to our new house the bathroom scales were broken inside. Now those scales tell me that I am a little over eleven stones (150 lbs). This is so untrue that I cannot swallow their declaration. My body has not seen eleven stones (150 lbs) for thirty years. Of course, I might like to let myself be deceived by the odd stone or two but not by a third of my weight!
The inner-self declared the scale's error as I hesitated near the full-length mirror in the bedroom! I could not get away with believing the untruth unless I set out to deliberately avoid my reflection, shadow etc.
There are plethora criteria with which we all attempt to measure up: our parents; fellow workers; people in our church – or the one down the road; our neighbours; those older; those younger; those with features and assets different to ours in any and every way. For each of us the list is personal and potentially unlimited. We can be deceived, deluded or obsessed by our comparison and judgement with values from this world once we let our minds stray from the truth.
I remember the story of Belshazzar who was weighed in the balance and found wanting by God (Daniel 5:27), and in the same night slaughtered. If we believe the world alone, how will their values stand up against God's rule when we come to our day of judgement?
Jesus - who sees us for who we really are - will one day take us into a new perfected eternal bodily form, free from comparison, sin and sorrow, with all our imperfections dealt with and cleansed.
In the interim, I believe Jesus died to set us free from enslavement to this world, its false declarations, deceptions and judgements. Today, by Grace, we can hear the truth in Him.
PRAYER: LORD, we thank You that You have given us an inner voice for You to speak into our lives today, words of guidance, life and encouragement. Set us free from delusion, doubt and sin so that, by Your Holy Spirit, we can live and move in Your will for our lives again. Amen.
Matthew 6:30-32:- If that is
how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and
tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe
you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall
we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For
the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father
knows that you need them. (ESV)We have a jotting board fixed to the refrigerator door. Each week we write down products that need to be bought. When we go to the supermarket we are reminded of the things we want to buy. That is, provided we have remembered to make a note on the board, transfer it to paper and take it with us! It is a visible aid to memory, or when we forget, it stares back reproachfully, a reminder of the things not bought.
Occasionally I wipe the board with a little cleaner to return it to its original condition and remove the smudges of red pen left from past outings that have been hastily erased with a fatigued finger or dry sponge.
Recently I looked at a list on the door, which I had not wiped clean from the previous week’s expedition, and as I gazed I realised the list was out of date. It needed to be wiped clean away to start a new list of essentials.
As I wiped clean the board I was reminded of an earlier time when I let go of all the stuff of life I had been carrying in my mind: anger; frustration; despair; doubt and fear. As a Christian I had taken up these idols and allowed them to grow in the place of Jesus because I was still the judge of what God wanted to do for me.
Now that I have given my list to Jesus I am no longer enslaved by them. Yes, Evil comes and re-writes things on my memory board, but when I come to my senses, I can recognise the list is no longer valid. It is out of date and, because I trust that my God will provide all my needs, it is then wiped clean, expunged.
PRAYER: LORD, we ask that You deliver us from the destructive lies of Evil. We declare Your authority to rule over us. We rejoice that You are keen to meet with us through Jesus. Please wipe clean our list of things past which have accumulated and are no longer current. Help us to grow in the love and knowledge of You and Your influence upon our lives today, in Jesus name, amen.
Luke 10:30-34:- Jesus
replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he
fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed,
leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that
road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So
likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed
by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to
where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to
him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and
wine… (ESV)I used to be a teacher and a caretaker so I find myself mildly obsessive about order, litter and untidiness in my place of work: home is another matter! One man confided in me that when he saw me for the first time in church, he checked to see if his mobile phone was off, just in case I told him to switch it off!
I progressed through the room at the end of my late night recently and switched off all one hundred of the machines as they became vacant. I also cleared up the discarded packaging resultant from the students' eating, hidden from the view of my office window: bless them. As I let go of my collection into the bin, a plastic foil wrapper wafted down, a fugitive from the bin's lip, and rested by the base. It looked up at me reproachfully. I told it to mind its own business, and to leave me alone. I told my mind not to be so obsessive about a piece of litter on the floor and hesitated for a moment.
It was no good, it drew me like a magnet, I had to pick it up.
As I did so the words of the good Samaritan came to mind. Do not ignore what God has placed at hand for you to do in the service of the Kingdom.
I believe God has put His desire into our hearts to be co-workers as Jesus' hands and voice to the world. He has placed a burden on our hearts to bind up the broken-hearted that acts like a magnet, to do the right thing and be drawn into action: to be prepared to cross the road, to be involved.
All this from a piece of dropped litter!
PRAYER: LORD, we ask that You cleanse and forgive us all that is past. As we worship You today, grant us Your presence to perceive Your Kingdom heart of love, wisdom and insight to this world. Let us know the call of Your Holy Spirit on our lives, so that we do not turn away from what You are calling us to do today in the authority of Jesus. Amen.
Luke 13:18-19:- He said
therefore, "What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I
compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took
and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the
birds of the air made nests in its branches." (ESV)I sat in the car listening to the sound on the roof. It was raining and eventually my patience was rewarded as the clouds wearied of their charge.
I walked and after a while, a cold sensation touched my legs. I stopped to look down to see the rainwater's tidemark on my trousers. My eye alighted onto a piece of rotting tree-trunk nearby. It was covered in grey-green lichen in bloom, its hues in beautiful contrast to the browns of the wood and the wet earth below. Unlike the raindrops, I gladly soaked this beauty in.
From this place of stillness, I looked up into the field of corn. As my eyes focused in on their target, I realised that what had caught my eye were the twitching ears of a doe hidden amongst the ears of cereal. Close by was another young doe, and as I moved towards them, they bounded off.
Recently I saw a Bullfinch with its vibrant red breast and black cap.
I perceive God's presence in nature as I walk because, in the peace within this postage stamp of creation, I become attuned to the stillness of His indwelling.
I believe that as we are still long enough in His Word, Jesus is found indwelling by the revelatory presence of the Holy Spirit. Just like my experiences in nature that have soaked into my being during my walks in the countryside, He too is willing to show me new insights that soak and indwell.
As the mustard seed small in the palm of the Sower's hand that once planted and watered became a tree, so my relationship with Him has grown and brought security for me, and others I pass this on to: those who come my way. They too, once planted, grow and experience Him on their own account.
PRAYER: LORD, Thank You Lord, for always being there when we reach out to touch Your presence by Your Grace. You have set us free to soak up life with You. Shine the light of Your Presence through all our doing and indwell our hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Revelation 3:15-19:- "'I
know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you
were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and
neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you
say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not
realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and
naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that
you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe
yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and
salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I
love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent."
(ESV)I get many emails. They keep me in touch with who and what needs praying about around the world. It helps me to keep my feet upon the ground: at least I like to think so.
I am, in comparison with those by whom I am often surrounded in my family, regarded as not well off. Therefore, it is quite easy for the little green monster to poke his head out from my lower consciousness, now and then, and make a natural assessment of my lack and their relative surfeit.
It is nice and cosy where I work: at times frustrating and stressful, yes, but no one is going to torture or shoot me, or my family for my faith.
In contrast to those who I read about, in emails that are in real danger of dying for their faith today, I have plenty and not just concerning the material things of this world.
Wretched, naked and poor or clothed in white - I wonder which I am?
PRAYER: LORD, we thank You so much for all we have. Enable us to keep a loose grip on them and a right understanding about Your Kingdom values in our lives, to the glory of Your Name. Amen.
Matthew 10:29-32:- "Are not
two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to
the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your
head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value
than many sparrows. So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I
also will acknowledge before my Father who is in
heaven…" (ESV)My parents had a problem with some mice which made holes in their garden furniture. So they set up a mouse trap alongside where the foam-cushioned chairs were stored in the shed. However a robin managed to get to sample the cheese and spring the trap first.
The robin, being taller and a little bigger than a mouse, did not get caught in the trap but instead received a severe blow to the head when the trap was sprung. It stood still there for quite some time with its head on one side and I wondered if it had been mortally damaged, because it did not move from the spot.
Being a bit of a sensitive-soul, the event stopped me in my tracks - as if I had been hit in the chest with a baseball bat. Consequently I automatically offered up a prayer that the bird might be healed so that no harm would come from the incident.
Imagine my rejoicing later when the robin perked up and flew away. The next day it returned to the safety of the bird-table in the garden. Despite the removal of the trap, I expect that it will not be venturing near the shed again!
As I prayed, the words of Jesus came to mind that are in the passage above and subsequently this remarks from God to Jonah:
Jonah 4:10-11:- And the LORD said, "You pity the plant, for which you did not labour, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?" (ESV)
Out-of-the-blue I realised that this was a word in my ear from above. Yes, God cares about this little robin but also He cares for the lost. Like Jonah I was challenged. When was the last time I had asked for God to work His purposes out to reach others through me? Who is God waiting on for my prayers to reach Him? Where is our life in action for prayers and salvation today? It made me think about the greater plan has for each one of us in His service. Where are our priorities today?
PRAYER: LORD, Please forgive us, yet again, that we have become self-centred and forgetful of Your Kingdom priorities. We welcome Your Holy Spirit into every area of our lives and prayers. Open our spiritual eyes to see the bigger picture for the world you are sending into today because we ask it in the Name of Jesus, amen.
Mark 7:20-23:- And he said,
"What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within,
out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality,
theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit,
sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil
things come from within, and they defile a person."
(ESV)Parking around the university is tight so I prefer to use the residential streets. As the occupants go to work at the time I arrive to start, they leave spaces. Later, the students arrive and fill in all the empty spaces.
The other day I arrived late after a meeting on another campus to find all the spaces taken nearby. As I drove around the block, I found a space right at the end of a street of back-to-back houses, which had a track up the middle of the rear to allow the utilities to access their waste bins.
As this was the quickest way back to the site, I decided to walk up the track. As I walked, I noticed the bins, placed ready to be emptied, had their contents strewn across the tarmac. Maybe it was the wind, or maybe it was a prank by the local youths, who can say, but the result was the same, toppled bins spewing forth their contents left and right as I slalomed through the mess.
From the roadside, everything looked fine. Shoulder-to-shoulder they provide a resolute façade that cannot be seen past from the road.
Lives can be like this, saddened people living in folly, not to mention anger, despair or frayed-at-the-edges whilst seemingly fine on the outside.
Behind the scenes in too many lives evil is working its havoc and destruction, raking up sin, spreading its soiled product around out of sight, like the rubbish I had seen spread on the tarmac.
Later when I came back it had all been cleaned up.
It reminded me that God is able to do this with us too. Jesus came to take out the rubbish, set us back on our feet again and clean us up - give him a call today.
PRAYER: Dear LORD, thanks for clearing up our dirty work, picking us up when we have been caught up wallowing in the mire. By Your Holy Spirit deliver us from any evil we have accepted into in our daily lives, especially the stuff no one sees or knows about and enable us by Your Grace to once more be acceptable in Your eyes today. Amen.
1 Chronicles 4:9-11:- …Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, "Oh
that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand
might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it
might not bring me pain!" And God granted what he asked.
… (ESV)I have always been careful to be honest with my eldest daughter and she respects this bond of trust we have, even when the answers are not what she may desire.
Lately, she grows in leaps and bounds even to the extent that I wonder when she will pass me by. She sees things so clearly, and with such enthusiasm, even if it be with the eyes of youth, so it seems that she, without my baggage, will surpass me. I continue to struggle on behind her, carrying my baggage of life, like a porter at railway station over-loaded and sweating with each step. She, on the other hand, drops everything to be in the loving arms of Jesus and long may it be so.
Recently she brought to me a book about the above passage. She wanted to ask me what I thought. Much seems to have been made of the passage, how God has answered the pray-er's plea for ministry and help. However, it concerned me a little, that whilst I carry my baggage, my daughter might infer from this book that just because she has prayed for something it would happen without any question. What worried me even more was the idea portrayed that when we get to heaven there would be a box with my name on it with all my unasked for gifts stored away and unused. I asked the question, "have I missed out?"
For me my God is not like that. I believe that what I need he gives, willingly and even with some prompting until I get the hang of asking for the right thing. My God wants the best, will train us for the best, always, no matter what becomes of us, because my God Love's His creation and is Faithful and Just.
Luke 6:20-22:- And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. "Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. "Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. "Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! (ESV)
Matthew 25:21:- His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.' (ESV)
PRAYER: LORD, You will not spurn, belittle or discard our love even as puny as it is and for Your Grace we praise You. LORD, show us Your way today so that we can walk in it and be a pleasing child of God before You. We rejoice that You first loved us enough to die for us to set us free from all that is not of You. LORD, we praise and worship Your Holy Name because You have allowed and enabled us to do just that. Amen.
Galatians 2:19-21:- For
through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I
have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ
lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the
Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set
aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained
through the law, Christ died for nothing!" (ESV)I have been busy lately – doing - so although things have been stressful and protracted, I thought I was fine.
This last Sunday arrived as a wake-up call as my body, mind and spirit came to a complete stop, the spirit-o-meter in my being read empty. I had some flu virus, which laid me out totally. Even breathing was an effort, with my ribs feeling sore. I sat still for twelve hours and watched Caroline move around me, whilst inwardly I prayed my fever would get no worse.
It was at this point that my inner-self reacquainted me that he, at least, was not crucified and was definitely feeling limited by this lack of activity. He wanted this canister of a being to be well - now. I do not do being ill very well.
To my great surprise and rejoicing, on Monday, my recovery was progressive and so rapid that I went to work in the afternoon to cover my evening session, having earlier thought I would be off most of the week.
In the stillness of the Monday morning not yet well, but rising, I wrote a song. I began to ponder what it meant. God was tangible, like after a heavy thunderstorm the freshness of His presence permeated the room as His Spirit poured over my consciousness. For this moment, my mind was still so I could receive what I had been given and so I wrote it down as I played it.
…So you're free to worship me, whenever you choose Even when you get the blues, lean on me…
Like Peter reaching for Jesus' out-stretched arms as he sank into the waves, looking elsewhere is a bad idea. So today, I ask myself the question: doing is good, but for whom are you doing it?
PRAYER: LORD, I thank You for the gift of words through which we can touch each other even when we are lifetimes or oceans apart. I rejoice in Your patience with me that allows my approach even when I am too embarrassed to run forward. Grant us Your understanding of what is good, pleasing, proper and appropriate for You to reign in our lives. Amen.
2Kings 5:11:- But Naaman was
angry and went away, saying, "Behold, I thought that he would
surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the
LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the
leper. (ESV).This morning, warm and snug in the moments before the clock said it was time to get up, I started to moan at my upstairs benefactor. It seems that lately, no matter how hard I try to pray, and to be honest I could try harder, not a lot seems to happen to confirm my chosen status in His Kingdom that I know exists. It was that small boy I have inside, sneaking about again.
My experience tells me not to mess with God but the small boy in me cannot resist. Like a toddler standing beside a roadside puddle, it just has to be done. Of course parents go mad at children jumping into puddles in the road because they can see the danger and the child can only see their new shiny-red boots, the puddle and its splash appeal. All us parents know this heart-in-mouth moment.
I want to be like Elisha, Daniel, Samuel or Moses, someone spectacular anyway, whom God listens to and takes note. The trouble is, unlike speaking an incantation that must be obeyed, prayer is just talking to, and beseeching our saviour, whilst the outcome remains His province alone. Anyone who has accepted Jesus can do it. In fact, anyone can: so I felt slightly robbed of my special status.
When my egotistic faith starts to suffer from a few knocks I can flounder about a bit. The world finishes at the end of my nose.
This morning as I moaned God opened my eyes to a prayer He had heard and answered. He did not shake me and say: look! or: You see! or make tutting noises under his breath. I just knew.
Like the child in the safe embrace of the roadside parent I felt a wee bit sheepish, but He hugged me and loved me anyway.
2Kings 5:15:- Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and he came and stood before him. And he said, "Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; so accept now a present from your servant." (ESV)
PRAYER: Father, we rejoice that You really do
love us and You want the best for each and every one of us, even
when we cannot see past the end of our own noses. Have mercy on
us and forgive our lack of faith and understanding. LORD Jesus
please protect us, from the lies of the Evil One as he seeks our
separation from Your everlasting love today.
LORD, hear our prayers for the lost and through Your Holy Spirit
presence speak to them and open their eyes to the danger they are
in. Amen.
Proverbs31:30:- Charm is
deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is
to be praised. (ESV).In my youth, the world finished at the end of my nose. The impact of love, healing and time have taken their toll and so rounded the edges. At least the edges have become rounded anyway.
My wife and I are a team and I rely on her more so when I am tired. Today was such a day. I had a list of things to do, written down so that I would not forget them. I had forgotten all about it. As I shopped the generally all round nice guy that I know to be me had steadily dripped out of a hole I must have somewhere in my foot. Oblivious to my peril he was not anywhere to be found when I needed him.
By the time I met up with my wife, I was finished. In the car groceries were mentioned along with the list that was still safe in my work-bag unused. The absence of shopping necessary to cook for guests due to come over tomorrow was on the menu and so was I. We needed to go back in again to buy what I had forgotten. "Not me!" a boy's voice spoke from my mouth.
We went home with a thick atmosphere despite the bright sunshine outside the car. My wife went off to finish the job I had failed to do. After some food and rest, the nicer Rod mused.
The choice was simple: either; stay on the Judas road to self-destruction or; admit my obvious failure and like Peter repent and allow Jesus in to help.
Like a boil in my skin I prodded it for a while. I knew my offence needed lancing and so I apologized for not being more reasonable. We made up. I love my wife.
James 3:17-18:- But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. (ESV)
PRAYER: LORD impart to us the grace to be able to forgive each other our failings. Help us to be humble and so to admit, with good grace, when we have been wrong. Remind us of Your Grace, given for us at such a cost to break the power of evil. By Your cleansing Love once more bring to us back to life. Thank You LORD that You are not without compassion and teach us Your way so we can follow You each day. Amen.
Romans 1:19-21:- For what
can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it
to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power
and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the
creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they
are without excuse. (ESV)I was scheduled to preach the other night but sadly, I had a bad headache and under pressure from the throbbing in my head. As we drove to collect my daughter on the way to the church, my wife and I noticed thousands of starlings flocking together as the sun set. They moved as whole, in a similar manner to a shoal of fish in the sea. It was very spectacular to see this amorphous shape writhe and turn as the birds moved this way and that, up and down, left and right, like blobs of ink on a sheet of glass. As we drove near this mass of birds, they darkened the sky and then just as quickly they were gone as they settled down for the night in the trees.
It is not something that we see every day, so I wondered at the event, the beauty of its shape and marvelled at the quantity of birds in chorus as they flocked together. The whole group seemed to become one. Whilst I am sure that there are analogies to be made with the body of Christ, encouraging one another, being one etc., what struck me first was the presence of God revealed to us through the wonder of the event.
This movement of nature was to me a reflection of our Creator God. In some way, I was touched and lifted up by the signature of God revealed through this mass of birds. In the excitement of the event, the stress of my headache lessened as I focused my mind totally for a moment on the wonder of this exhibition, and not on my headache. It was as if God was saying to me: focus on me, not on the pain, and it lessened progressively as we drove on.
PRAYER: LORD, I thank You for Your graciousness, for You are unseen yet evident in many ways throughout our existence. You are always there smiling at us from within Your creation and yet You are willing to meet us, each one in person where we are. We say welcome, Father, Son and Holy Spirit; come and speak Your life-giving words into our lives today. Amen.
Luke 10:41-42:- But the Lord
answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about
many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good
portion, which will not be taken away from her." (ESV)I find that it is my calling to continue to walk the walk, and talk the talk, where I am. However, in my impatience and lack of faith, sometimes I find myself like Martha, asking for more help!
One Sunday morning I presented my case to the King of Kings. I comforted myself in the knowledge that I had said what needed to be said and thus far was untouched by thunderbolts or gaping holes in the ground. I became aware of a little girl. She stood a short distance away on her own to the side of her parents nearby. She was not more than four years old.
The following question came to mind: What is the one thing that this child you see in front of you needs above all else? Simple, I thought, every small child needs to be loved, accepted, cuddled and protected by their parents. Nothing means more to a child at that age because, untroubled by news, exams and fashion, this is the totality of their world view. They just want to rest secure in the feeling of being hugged, safe from harm.
Then, in my mind, I could see clearly the smile on a child's face being held against a parent's chest. It was at this point that I realised that this was not just my imagination because I was also aware of the invitation from God for me to do just that.
So, right in the middle of a Sunday service, I let go of the questions, attitude and stuff, to be enveloped with the warmth of my saviour's love! I climbed up and I rested in God's arms. Several weeks later as I write, the picture is clear in my mind and His Love and warmth evident.
All are welcome.
Luke 10:20-21:- Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."
In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. (ESV)
PRAYER: LORD, I thank you so much for Your Grace - Your willingness to accept us, clean us, and re-clothe us. In Your mercy keep us safe in Your care. Be with all those who need a hug from You today and grant us Your peace, because we come in the name of Jesus, amen.
Matthew 24:37:- As were the
days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in
those days before the flood they were eating and drinking,
marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered
the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept
them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two
men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two
women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one
left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your
Lord is coming. (ESV)The wind blew and the trees swayed as a harbinger of the coming storm. The sky grew dark and the clouds rolled in to unleash a heavy snowstorm. Within a few minutes there was an inch of snow on the ground and we wondered how long it would last and how deep the snow would get. As we pondered looking out of the window, there was a flash of light. I thought someone had taken a picture with a camera flash because of our nineteenth-century gothic-arch-windowed chapel, which was in stark contrast to the white snow. It would have made a perfect setting for some Dickensian melodrama but no; it was actually thunder and lightning.
The town came to a standstill. It seems that, in their impatience to get home, people had blocked the exits and so they in turn stopped others! Eventually, I followed the only cars that were moving and took a shortcut through the middle of town away from the main queue that had been static for forty-five minutes. It seems there had been a chemical fire in a nearby town's industrial estate and so the adjacent motorway traffic had been diverted into the town for safety's sake to get people away from the fumes. Of course this was done before the snow had arrived!
Meanwhile the snow had stopped and people were in a state of consternation, slipping on the pavements, stuck in cars and lorries wondering how long it would be before they could get home.
Children whooped with laughter and threw snowballs at any one of their peers daft enough to draw attention to themselves. It made me think about our assumption that tomorrow will be the same as today.
Sudden, life-changing events happen all the time. It might be today we find out that for us there are no more tomorrows! Following Jesus I seek to travel light, in the expectation that I might be ready when called upon to go.
PRAYER: LORD, open our eyes to recognize what it is You are doing in our lives today so that we can be new vessels for You where we are. Enable us to be ready and willing to move on to where it is You wish to take us. For tomorrow is a whole new day of opportunity. Amen.
Hebrews 13:1-3:- Let
brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to
strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them,
and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the
body. (ESV)It was my Auntie's cremation the other day. My auntie was a special person; she was a golden fist in a velvet glove. Right up to her entry into hospital, she was helping my cousin's family in practical ways, always there taking an interest doing this and that, not bad for a lady past her ninetieth birthday. She never gave in to circumstances but rather she seized the day by the scruff of the neck until it gave in by the grace of God.
In May, I saw her at the London Eye, a big wheel towering over London. She was full of life and like a teenager excited, keen to hear all the latest news. She died peacefully in her sleep a few days ago after a lifetime of service to others, seen and unseen, but known to our saviour. May she enjoy her reward in heaven.
It is reported by Christian Solidarity Worldwide (http://www.cswusa.com/) that Christians are being persecuted in extreme measure by oppressive regimes under the guise of religion, religious politics or military rule. I ask what can I do?
What I can do is pray, to bring Jesus into those individual cases that touch my consciousness. Seen and unseen, Jesus knows, even the number of hairs on their heads.
Let us remember those who continue to suffer for our Faith. Even though it may be thousands of miles away, and we may not be there in person, Jesus Christ is.
I believe Jesus wants us to ask Him into these places, for His will to be done worldwide. We can pray the Holy Spirit's healing presence to empower the faithful, to make a difference in their lives as they seek to stand up for their God day-by-day, doing what they can, here and there as they refuse to give in.
PRAYER: LORD, Thank You for the faithful. For
Your servants in all their guises, known and unrecognised,
natural and heavenly. Through them, You make our world a better
place for many. Grant to them and us wisdom and strength to serve
You more faithfully for as long as we are permitted to live in a
time we call Today.
LORD, hear the prayers of Your Church today, deliver it from
Evil, in its various forms, and remind us once more of the song
You put into our hearts. Amen.
Hebrews 13:5-6:- Keep your
life free from love of money, and be content with what you have,
for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we
can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear;
what can man do to me?" (ESV)The other day I had a letter that sparked annoyance. Somewhere from within I was put in touch with this little boy that I carry with me from an earlier life. He is always there waiting. He hides around a corner ready to jump out and say: "surprise"! The adult aspect of me, that I have nurtured and respected, took me to one side and reasoned with this earlier voice: "have a sense of proportion!" and, as adults tend to do, he took charge of the child to provide a more ordered and constructive response.
As an ex-child, and as a supposedly responsible parent, I have insider knowledge about children's wants: being excessive; spontaneous; loving, making demands of their elders and generally not being very concerned with the bigger picture past the end of their nose. In fact I would go as far as to say some people never grow up, they run here and there, expend energy without regard to the cost, and are generally effervescent. I used to be like that, if only my body could remember how!
I am so glad that I am a Christian (cf. Matthew 11:25-30). No matter how hard circumstances blow, I have learnt that Jesus is there to steady the boat, no matter what. I guess that for me if it were not for Jesus with me to give my life a sense of order from within, this little boy would be allowed to run riot and play havoc with my life.
Jesus loves the little boy in me. He watches out for his best interest, cares and nurtures him. Why? Perhaps it is because it is as this child I can run to him, arms outstretched, hug Him, and cry "Daddy" as he hugs me in return.
Matthew 18:3:- … "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (ESV)
PRAYER: LORD, for today please meet with us as Your children, unfettered by responsibility, receive us and in Your mercy give us a hug: and LORD in the safety of Your embrace save us from becoming too grown up for our own good! Amen.
Luke 21:34-36:- But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed
down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and
that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come
upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake
at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape
all these things that are going to take place, and to stand
before the Son of Man. (ESV) Outside of the croft’s large window where we stayed, the birds twittered and played on the short grass by the meadow. I searched to find the source of a chirping sound that emanated from underneath our car out front. There, away from the main gathering of the birds, a meadow-pipit chirruped away to the group as it hunted for sources of sustenance.
I wondered why this solitary bird was hiding under the car searching so close to the croft’s front window. The rest of the flock seemed to be happy out in the open, vying with one another for dominance, playing, squabbling, flitting and feeding.
Suddenly the group was scattered as a grey blur which dropped out of the sky, snatched up one of these birds and disappeared, stage right. The encircled talons affirmed that this fledgling’s destiny was completed.
Such is the outcome for the many naïve who do not heed their circumstances. Predators are on the prowl and search for the opportunity to take advantage of what they consider an easy target, or a tasty morsel!
The news informs us that for us human-beings life can be dangerous too. In itself, being a part of the crowd is no guarantee for our safe-keeping. For the present some appear to be unconcerned, flitting, squabbling and in a world of their own choosing. Some will have a providential wake up call to change their ways, a lucky escape. Some, like the bird above, do not get the option for a second chance, but become encircled by their own destruction.
Praise God for this little bird that under our car sought protection from predators that soar in the sky above. He has reminded me of the blessing that comes from living under the safeguard of our Shepherd’s dynamic protection.
PRAYER: LORD, we rejoice today to say: Thank
You for Your Love, provision and shelter! We ask for Your
forgiveness of our presumption that, childlike, once more takes
from You unceasingly—with little recognition from whom it
is we call upon, or the enormity of who watches over us.
LORD, we ask You to direct us away from the things that rate in
Kingdom terms as unimportant. Strengthen us and lead us back into
the safety of Your Loving-kindness, in Jesus’ name we pray,
amen.
1 Peter 1:13-19:- Therefore,
prepare your minds for action; be self- controlled; set your hope
fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had
when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is
holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy,
because I am holy."… …For you know that it was not
with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were
redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your
forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ...
(ESV)The other day I made a trip to the refuse and recycling centre to drop off some old large stereo speakers. They had taken up residence stacked next to the storage heater since I had liberated them from my parents last autumn (fall).
At the time, it seemed a little precipitous to dispose of these pieces of wooden history when I had thought I might renovate them. With the advent of the New Year, I had still not got around to it so I decided it was best just to dispose of them humanely at the refuse site.
Their warmth wafted onto my face, as I took them out to the car one-by-one. When I carried the bottom speaker of the pair I noticed that it had a black charred area on its side that had previously rested up against the heater.
I remembered, with the arrival of the winter weather, I had turned up the heater to throw more heat into our living-room area, without taking into account the adjacent speakers that had become invisible as part of the clutter of the room!
I was quite shaken to think, but for a fit of decisive action on a Sunday afternoon, they could have set alight the sofa in front of them, if I had decided to allow them to remain unmoved, as I had turned up the heat further!
On the way to the disposal site I wondered what there was within me, like the speakers next to the heater in my living-room, that had become part of my inner clutter and in need of action to be removed, before they too become a fire liability when next the heat is turned up on me!
PRAYER: LORD, sometimes we despair that yet again we find ourselves guilty of falling short of Your holy example. We ask that You would once more walk through our inner self and highlight those attitudes and issues that You see as clutter. So, by Your Grace, in the Name of Jesus, we give them to be taken for disposal today before they may do us harm. Amen.
Luke 4:18-19:- The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has
anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to
proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the
blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the
year of the Lord’s favour." (ESV)I went into the bathroom and, as I turned on the bath taps, a small spider stuck inside the bath came into view. It had obviously given up any attempt to get out of the bath’s sheer sides--escape must have seemed impossible because it sat there forlorn, doing nothing waiting for what happened next. I decided to save the creature from the deluge.
I leant over and gently lifted up this minor offender out of the bath. Then I blew it from my fingertip into the upstairs landing with all its hiding places.
As I stood to congratulate myself in doing the deed, a light went on in the back of my consciousness: this was reminiscent of how Jesus has saved me. How He reached into my hopeless situation and plucked me out of it and, blowing me where His Holy Spirit willed, granted me new hope, even new life.
It was as if I was reminded that Jesus is watching my progress and, if needs be, He will bring His influence to bear. I thought how great to be reminded: Jesus loves even little ME!
He who is for us is faithful.
Let me say for balance, He will not always take me out of situations that seem impossible because they only “seem” impossible to me, there and then. Sometimes we have to journey through life’s little shortcomings, and death but, at the end of our piece of rope we cry, ”Jesus HEEELP!” and He is there with us. Praise God, I have known it and seen it.
Sometimes we do not even need to do that because God loves those intercessors that have a heart for grace, love, justice, suffering and the lost and He will guide them.
Whom should we pray for today?
PRAYER: LORD, You are worthy of praise and
glory! We come into Your presence humbly asking that we might be
set free from our sin once again, by Your grace and mercy.
LORD, grant us wisdom to comprehend the prayers You want to be
prayed today. So that In the Name of Jesus Your loved ones will
be, empowered, encouraged, saved, healed, restored protected and
delivered from Evil, to the glory of the Father.
LORD, overwhelm them and us with Your Holy Spirit, peace and love
today, in the Name of Jesus, amen.
2Chronicles 30:8-10:- Do not
now be stiff-necked as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to
the LORD and come to his sanctuary, which he has consecrated
forever, and serve the LORD your God, that his fierce anger may
turn away from you. For if you return to the LORD, your brothers
and your children will find compassion with their captors and
return to this land. For the LORD your God is gracious and
merciful and will not turn away his face from you, if you return
to him. (ESV)In the context of the chapter for the verses above: God, through Hezekiah, called out to His chosen people to change their ways and turn back to Him, or face the consequences.
As and when I can think of an excuse not to bicycle into work, I use the car - any excuse is sufficient.
The other day I had a cold so I made my way around the town's one-way system in the car and, as per usual, the traffic was congested and slow moving. In front of the car ahead of me, waiting at the traffic lights, was a pigeon strutting his stuff in the road: not a care in the world, apparently. A casual observer might have surmised that this was some kind of kryptonite-powered super-pigeon impermeable to the intimidation of a large car bearing down of him.
I gathered the driver was unaware of the cock just out of sight, ahead of his front-nearside wheel. The pigeon continued to strut indifferent to this large rubber and metallic object creeping ever closer. Just at the very, very last moment, the pigeon conceded defeat and jumped, flapped and twisted in mid-air to move out of the path of the car's looming wheel. When the pigeon realised the game was up he appeared to be less than an inch from the tyre! To me this was too close a call for the pigeon to continue with such a kamikaze-like bravado without becoming maimed or squished in the near future!
Are we strutting our stuff today, going our own way or are we asking for God's Grace? Matthew 7:8-11:- "For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! (ESV)
Just a thought!
PRAYER: LORD, we are here again, brazen and a little foolish, please forgive us our failings and our inaction where we have continued on our merry way - oblivious to our own peril. Enable us to recognise where we are walking today and help us to hear Your voice as Your Holy Spirit whispers life and guidance into our lives once more, in Jesus' name Amen.
Matthew 2:1-2:- Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him." (ESV)
"I want, I want, I want…", this is the call of the small toddler you see at the sweet counter. Of course it goes hand-in-hand with the never ending question: "Why, why, why …?" ad nauseam.
I heard a man who came to speak at Bible College. It was not his intelligence that impressed me, as much as an awareness of the presence of God with him. He was called Anthony Bloom, otherwise known as Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh (Arch Bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church). He had renounced the world, its clothes and its values. He wore just what he had, even if it was a bit worn.
As someone who aspires to be this holy but cannot seem to be able to renounce the world, its clothes, or its pleasures, to the same extent as Rt. Rev. Anthony I feel a bit embarrassed at the demands that I make on my maker.
I walked in town tonight and in the middle of the road there were various stars, some flashing, on and off, in red, white and blue, others static, their white lights shining. The star reminds us about the pronouncement of Good News and salvation of two thousand years ago.
As Christians, we all are able to shine. Let us not give up the hope we have, even when our lights flicker for a moment. The angels know and praise the name of Jesus, and rightly so. When a policeman stops us, we do not ask ourselves, "how does he look?", we respect the higher authority of the office and the badge he carries, or else we are in for trouble. Today as we come before the throne and go on into the world, remember whose star, and whose authority, we reverence and take with us!
Luke 2:14:- "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!" (ESV)
PRAYER: Lord, may Your favour rest on us today. May it grant forgiveness of sins and authority to serve where You take us. To the glory of Your Name and in Your power grant us eyes to see those who are open to the message of hope, and ears to hear what they are saying. Amen.
Matthew4:16:- the people
dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those
dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has
dawned. (ESV)Earlier this year, we had a power cut, when I had to make my way downstairs in the dark. Since then I have invested in a torch. Well surprise, surprise, we had another power cut just a few weeks ago.
I am glad to say that we were prepared, so I made my way straight to the torch near the fuse-box. Soon we were alight with candles and, sitting down to view a blank TV screen, we awaited the return of the power.
Time passed as I wondered how far the darkness stretched. So I went to have a look outside. It covered the whole of my immediate block and at least the next one up the road. Along this main traffic route through town, there was just one streetlight defiantly aglow. It was at the end of the street on the other side of the road. Apparently this light was unaffected by the blackout, which was particularly fortuitous because the pavement juts out in a kink as it joins the road, some 50 yards from a set of traffic lights.
To my amazement people zoomed, too fast down the main road, straight across an intersection without much thought to those who attempted to traverse it at right angles to the larger road without the aid of the lights. I winced at the sight of cars and cyclists who took their lives in their hands to get across in the darkness. So I stood, bathed in the pool of light cast by this one streetlamp, and signalled for cars to slow down and warn them of a hazard ahead.
For me this streetlight has echoes of the above verse, how Jesus came into our world to shed His light and guide us on our way which we celebrate at Christmas time.
PRAYER: LORD, You alone are the one who brings Good News, who sheds Your divine Light into our darkness. Please forgive us our sins and deliver us from hardened hearts as we remember Your free gift to us of eternal life this Christmas, thanks LORD, amen.
John 11:9-10:- Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the
day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he
sees the light of this world. But if anyone walks in the night,
he stumbles, because the light is not in him." (ESV)One winter’s evening, I arrived to collect my mother-in-law from where she had arrived at the coach station. I was a few minutes late so, like a gun dog, I feverishly scanned the horizon for my target. There in the gloom of the streetlights and a telephone kiosk, I just caught a glimpse of an old lady trip, fall and bang her head on the telephone box corner.
I rushed over to reassure her, to see how she was and to help her up from the ground. She was stunned and a little confused but mostly ok. Women of this ilk are made of sterner stuff and don’t bleed easily. With the help of another who arrived we telephoned her niece, whom she had come to visit, and alerted her to the lady’s arrival. In truth I think there was a deal of confusion, hence why the niece was not there. As I helped her to the seat I could see her ability to walk was severely impaired no wonder she had faltered. Oh the unfairness of this very senior citizen with poor mobility and even poorer night vision. She had had no chance to perceive the uneven tarmac repair upon which she had tripped.
Anyway we got her under cover. At some point I had rushed off to find my mother-in-law and asked her to come to see the lady. When I was reassured that my co-helper was going to sit with her until her lift arrived I decided it was time to depart.
What has lodged in my spirit is not just her plight, but ours too, potentially. If Christ is not leading us today, we are likewise – with poor vision, confused and vulnerable to be tripped up by the pitfalls of the world.
John 8:12:- Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (ESV)
PRAYER: LORD, we rejoice that you know each one of us intimately. Please watch over the vulnerable and fallen in our world. If that is us today, please lift us up put us on your shoulder and lead us to safe pasture once more. LORD, for those who have no one to keep them safe, or to watch over them, please stand guard and shine Your light on them, in Jesus’ name, amen.
John 8:12:- Again Jesus
spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever
follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of
life. (ESV)We have had a few cold snaps lately, in the lee of the Cotswold Hills. We had a heavy frost, which fell thickly onto the roofs and windows of the cars in our street.
I was later than I needed to be in the conditions the other day because I wanted to soak in a quick bit of scripture before I left home. As I went to the street, the cars were heavily frosted and I knew it was going to take me a couple of minutes to clear the windows and get the engine running. However, on my arrival at my car, I was surprised to see it was frost-free and ready to go.
It transpired that I had parked opposite a junction where there was a break in the line of houses. These houses had screened out the low winter sun on the cars. On my one car spilled brilliant sunshine warming it through.
As I drove to work in good time, I reflected upon this act of serendipity. It had come hard on the heels of reading God's praises in the psalms that had warmed my heart and got me ready to face the day. I know that His light shines on me through His Word, just like the sunshine on the car.
We live cheek-by-jowl with our contemporaries and the only difference may be that God's light shines on us. Ok, so sometimes, it does not feel like it, but this does not mean His warming light is not there. Those who do not know the grace of salvation through Jesus, live under a greater shadow. The light is there but they are unable to feel its warmth because they are not in the right place to let it rest on them.
PRAYER: LORD, we thank You that Your light shines on us daily. We invite You in to warm our souls, to remove the coldness of the times when we have ignored Your will and purpose for our lives. Enable us, by Your grace, to be ready to go where You would send us today. Amen.
Deuteronomy 18:10-12:- There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD. And because of these abominations the LORD your God is driving them out before you. (ESV)
I love the sci.fi. films, books and programs. I do love a good story. As a young man I read Douglas Adams, Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov, John Wyndam, etc. Good harmless stimulation for the brain.
Now that the TV is king at home, I watch the screen. It is easier to relax in front of some mindless fantasy but even then I still have to be wary.
I have always had a fascination with the supernatural in my rebellious spirit. In my early years I dabbled in stuff that was just fun and harmless. All very well and good, until Jesus came knocking at the door of my conscience and said: No, it is not good, do not do it, do not agree with it, do not watch it, or even think about it. So Jesus cleansed my spirit and mind, so now Evil has no real fear for me because I know my God is greater, and I can dismiss him, in Jesus.
So it came as a bit of a surprise when that same warning voice told not to watch a certain program on TV. I thought: I am an adult, what is the problem? It’s only make believe! Still my conscience told me: don’t do it. Reason is not sufficient in the face of faith and that still small voice, so I stopped because self-justification is often masking evil intent (cf. Proverbs 1:7).
Recently a new supernatural thriller has sucked me in to its thrall because it is entertaining, eye-catching, and easy to watch. Ho, hum burnt again: and there are consequences.
I really do rejoice that our God loves us enough to prompt my conscience via the Holy Spirit to do the right thing, and desist. He guards our souls, if we listen.
PRAYER: LORD, we are truly sorry for the Evil that has come in through the window of our souls and we have added to this sin and allowed it to tarry there. We lay it down before you today. Please cleanse our thought, soul and eye filters from the bad things in the world which we have given permission to enter our lives, and in so doing have lost our Kingdom distinctiveness.
LORD, please take the trash away and purify our hearts, close the door behind it. We worship you. For we believe that is why You came, to deliver us from the works of the Evil One in all his craftiness, so to reconcile us in Your Love today, as we praise Your holy name, in Jesus, amen.
Proverbs 16:9:- The heart of
man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.
(ESV)The other day we were driving when a car pulled across the road, behind the car in front: apparently with not a thought to find out if there was another car following!
As a result of previous experience gained from sailing, I knew that if a car pulls across in front of you, then aim at the rear of the car so that by the time you get there it will have moved out of the way. Of course, unlike boats, cars have brakes and on this particular occasion, the driver hit his brakes so hard he stopped dead.
I seemed to have increased the pressure on the brake pedal progressively as time passed and, by this point, it caused the wheels to lock up. Here we were, sliding towards a large red pickup truck: "oh joy!" I thought. About then, I decided that it might be good to steer away from the said truck straddling the middle of the carriageways. We were losing speed but not enough to avoid the imminent collision.
All that remained for me to do was to take my foot off the brake and allow the wheels, now on full lock, to start turning and grip the road. Thankfully, this they did and, without spinning around, we managed to turn a hard right and missed the truck - whose driver just drove off.
After I pulled to the side of the road and checked that all of us were in a reasonable state of being, we drove on! My mouth, for some reason, had become dry!
I'd like to take the credit for not having hit the truck but I know my thoughts were directed from above! God's protection and graciousness availed to keep us safe from harm and directed my actions - and this not for the first time!
PRAYER: I rejoice that You are the inaugurator of the laws of physics and You gave us minds to sense Your will with. We ask that You direct our paths both physically as well as metaphorically, as we submit our travel and our lives to Your loving care today. Amen
Matthew 25:15:-To one he gave five talents, to another two, to
another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went
away. (ESV)I skimmed over Matthew’s Gospel parable of the Talents this morning, knowing the parable’s content, yet I gained a new insight.
As someone who has sympathised with the poor chap given a single talent as a reluctant servant, I have always found it a discomfort to see in the seed of his reluctance, his downfall.
Although it has been many a year since I was a RE teacher I taught there is only a single purpose in a parable: a story with a single meaning, to portray the significance to its listeners of the new paradigm Kingdom of God. They are not to be allegorised because they were meant to be vivid and immediate — attention grabbing. Parables simply take you by the hand and guide you over a bridge from our worldly view into His, to illustrate a part of the Kingdom of God on earth through Jesus’ Sonship.
There are various talent search shows in vogue at the present time, both here in Britain and also in the USA. They allow those who seek it, the opportunity to display their talent to the awaiting judges and audiences. They have been a rich vein of entertainment to some.
Today I recognised a complete contrast between the man of the single talent, given according to his ability, and the other servants. They unlike him, but like the hopefuls on the TV, wanted to make the most of what they have been given. They want to be recognised as able, to demonstrate their abilities. To shine, to be lifted up to greater things.
No lime light for me, but neither will I bury my talent in fear, because I know God Loves me and Loves those I meet. He gives to us according to our abilities, so that we can rightly bring forth fruit.
PRAYER: LORD, we rejoice in what has been given to us. Let us not be deceived into desiring what is not of You. Grant us courage to mature the gifts given to us so we can be found bearing fruit when you call us to account, in Jesus’ name, amen.
Romans 12:1-2:- I appeal to
you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your
bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which
is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but
be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you
may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable
and perfect. (ESV)I remember a cartoon that showed two elks standing together in a clearing. One elk had a vivid black and white alternate concentric ringed mark on his chest. The companion to the elk with the unusual birthmark said: "that's a very unfortunate birthmark you have on your chest!"
Sometimes, because of my thought and actions, say watching a film on the TV, I re-expose my underlying fallen-ness of being and make the statement to the world: come and get me! As we opt into the things of this world that are not helpful to our salvation, we can step outside the protective care of Jesus. We become open season for the hunters of this age.
As redeemed beings, I believe we are no longer subject to the attitudes of this age alone. In Christ, we are set free from sin and slavery to worldly values and preoccupations. We only have to live by His rules to stay under His super-natural armour. This is a continuing process of repentance and acceptance of redemptive grace.
The sobering thought that I am not right, brings me quickly back to His sovereign protection, a bit like the cartoon character who finds himself running in fresh air as the ground beneath my feet has vanished from view and gravity is about to act!
The first step I take to get back to firm ground is to be reminded that we are all sinners, yes, even me. Grace is a gift of God to be accepted. I for one am exceedingly grateful to be under this continuing process of cleansing and renewal.
The second is to be prepared to include Jesus in our decision making and actions, to exclude nothing, to make a response with all that I am, or able to give at present, to Him.
Ephesians 2:8-9:- For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (ESV)
PRAYER: LORD, we rejoice that You have set us
free. We grant You access to inhabit those areas of faith and
will where we are struggling and so ask You today to strengthen
us and encourage our desire for the good and holy in our
lives.
LORD, we delight in those areas of faith and will where You
already reign and we ask that You grow and keep us in that way.
Amen.
John 12:46:- I have come
into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not
remain in darkness. (ESV) We had a fire drill the other day, so I looked at the torch that we have for night-time use. I checked the battery by placing my tongue across the terminals to see if it would give me the expected level of jolt.
The battery was not up to the required standard that I expected from a large torch. So, this explained the lack of light activity from the bulb end! What was required was a new battery.
I have discovered that my life can be a little like a battery. I can be charged up and ready to go, or not, just as the case may be. I have found that lives are like batteries because, apart from nourishment, life experiences can charge up our bodies and souls both positively or negatively.
As we experience stress, hurts, bad events, love, joy, laughter, success and forgiveness our body and soul stores up the energy associated with these events, just like a battery.
I believe when I give Jesus all my experiences through prayer, He will accept them. He will discharge the stored up bad energy, without the requirement necessarily for me to lose these memories, which contribute to who I am. He affirms the good and encourages right action, only removing what we cannot cope with at the time: not that I always recognise it. He heals and cleanses us from the bad to make us stronger.
God brings people alongside us for a time to share some of our kept experiences and subsequent healing. In so doing we become bridges to His restoration and salvation for them. As we are faithful, so His Truth will be there ready to shine.
Let us check our batteries so that the Grace and Love of God may be made manifest in our lives today.
1 John 1:7:- He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. (ESV)
PRAYER: Lord, as we come into Your presence, cleanse us from our sin today and renew Your light of Life in us once more. Send us out into the world fully charged and ready to show Your light in us, to the glory of Your name. Amen.
Genesis 8:22:- While the
earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and
winter, day and night, shall not cease. (ESV)Do you ever have enough time? Some people have too little time, like the White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland. Some people have both too much and not enough, depending on their priorities towards things like TV and washing up.
Recently I watched a review of David Attenborough's TV career as a natural history presenter. I am enthralled by seeing creation raw in tooth and claw, as well as in its beauty, diversity and mystery - at a safe distance! Time has allowed all nature's majesty to occur.
I believe in God the Creator of all things, including Time. It is a finite gift for us all admittedly: more for some than for others. How we handle time is dependent on our psychosocial and physical make up.
Flies react ten times faster than we do. That is why they are so hard to swat! A sloth reacts four times slower than we do and so it is easy prey when it descends to the forest floor.
Time-lapse photography shows the beauty of plant growth and movement not perceptible to human in real-time vision. God, the master of time, sees all things in their rightful perspective and period. He sees the beauty of growth or passing clouds. He sees the disaster of pollution and the sadness of forest depletion or erosion. It does not surprise Him. His view of time, beginning to end, is but like a day for us. We are truly the drop in the bucket or the dust on the scales.
God, The Sustainer-of-all, became a human child, subject to the limitation of time and form. He made the time for us.
Something inside asks: "Should not we, who have been given this precious gift of Life, give the first-fruits of our time for Him?"
Psalm 32:6:- Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him. (ESV)
PRAYER: LORD, Maker and Master of all, come and be God-with-us today, encourage, remind and help us to make time for You and Yours. Abide with us and, as we are willing, so impart more of Your reality for us. Amen.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8:- For
everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under
heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; A time to plant,
and a time to pluck up what is planted; A time to kill, and a
time to heal;… … A time to keep, and a time to cast
away; A time to tear, and a time to sew; A time to keep silence,
and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; A time
for war, and a time for peace. (ESV)Time is metered, monitored, adjusted, lost or gained. It is a fact that we do not live forever. Therefore, we are here, warts, world, things and all, for a time. To do with as we are able. It is so precious to those who are short of it and yet it is taken for granted by those who think they have sufficient.
As I have the chance and the leading, I confront work colleagues and friends about the miracles I believe Jesus is performing today in our time through the Holy Spirit. Those who are Christians, or at least sympathetic, are touched and encouraged by the future hope found in accounts passed on by me of what is truly impossible happening in our times.
Those who are not this way predisposed think I am deceived, gullible or just well intentioned. It is not yet their time to comprehend the Truth; they do not want to see Him the way I do, at work behind the everyday events. I guess it might mean a change of lifestyle or a letting go of the things they have allowed to eat into their existence.
I also believe that God, in and through the presence of Jesus via the Holy Spirit, can speak for Himself into their situations, a still small voice at the right time. It happened to us, it could happen to them if they seek His face.
I consider we live in an equivalent of biblical times of a world ripe for judgement and disaster hovering over us but also one ripe for harvest. From within the Kingdom of God, there is nothing to fear: our hope is not temporal because its author is God Eternal. Through Jesus the infinite became incarnate and, by an act of Grace, available to humanity.
Acts 1:7:- He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the end of the earth". (ESV)
PRAYER: LORD, impart to us Your Word so that we can soak it in. Enlighten our hearts and minds to know Your Time in our life so that we might dwell with You through it today. Thank You LORD, for giving us Your Life in our time. Amen.
John 11:10:- But if anyone
walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in
him." (ESV)John 8:12:- "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (ESV)
Everything went completely black. We had had a power-cut whilst I was working on the computer late at night. This was a bit of a shock because we live in an area of considerable light pollution from the main road so that even at night the light shines!
Being someone who likes to be prepared, I have a torch with alkaline batteries in it. It is stored under the stairs near the fuse box adjacent to the front door.
I thought, with a certain amount of self-affirmation: who is a clever boy then! Fancy being prepared for such an unlikely situation where all the power was cut in the house and street together! Time to use my torch! However, after this initial moment of self-congratulation came the time to stand up and move!
To make the journey meant traversing the bedroom floor, finding the door, crossing the upstairs landing, finding my way downstairs and getting to the entrance hall in the total darkness and over the various booby traps left by me earlier, to retrieve the said torch before I could turn on its precious gift of light!
In contrast, with the torch on, it revealed to me all the shoes, clothes and baskets hidden in darkness, but now in plain view, that had hindered my initial journey downstairs! It made wonder whether there was something struggling to be said.
How much have I taken the light of Christ for granted that once changed my life and continues to do so daily within - as it does for all those who are children of God?
How much more difficult would our ordinary lives be without the light that illuminates our way through this world's darkness? This has prompted praise in recognition of a God who watches over His children.
PRAYER: LORD, we give you honour and praise for
Your gift to us of life. We thank You so much for Your act of
Grace that sheds Your Love-Light into our worldly-darkness.
Forgive us when we ignore the gift that has been freely given and
remind us of Your dialogue within.
LORD, we ask, in the Name of Jesus, for You to shine Your Light
in our lives and illuminate our path as we go with You into the
day ahead, amen.
Jude 22-23:- And have mercy
on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the
fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment
stained by the flesh. (ESV)A man was an avid cacti collector. He bought a metre tall cacti plant. He brought it back to Australia for his collection and planted in the back garden after it had passed all the quarantine regulations.
One day when it had grown to two meters tall, he watered it down to keep it cool and the plant shivered. He sprayed it and it moved again. This he thought was not normal for a plant so he consulted the local council who passed him on to the state's foremost horticultural specialist.
The expert asked about the cacti. He then asked if there was anyone else with him. He was told to gather the occupants of the house and get out immediately. Some little time later, the police and fire brigade arrived and promptly burnt down the cactus and its surroundings with a flame-thrower.
The man asked the expert why they had burnt down his precious cacti and garden fence. The answer was given as he peeled back a piece of the cacti skin to reveal a hollow inside that was the nurture-environment for a bird-eating tarantula that had previously laid its eggs inside the plant. After they had hatched, these spiders had continued to grow inside the plant until they were fully mature and were about the size of a large dinner plate.
The plant had been about to spill out the hundred and fifty or so spiders inside.
This is just a story, but I pass it on because it made me ask questions of myself such as: what things have I treasured lately? Are the new things good? Or is there something unseen inside waiting the right time to get out and run riot? What about my friends and family? Just a thought!
PRAYER: Father, we bring to You our lives as an
offering of praise and thanksgiving for Your provision, for You
alone are worthy to receive thanks and praise. You alone are the
giver of life and the eternal deliverer from our sins and
failures.
Purify our hearts once more so that we may be as precious gold to
You and acceptable in Your sight. May we be, by Your grace, fit
lamp stands to carry Your light into a darkened world today.
Amen.
Proverbs 3:5-7:- Trust in
the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own
understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make
straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD,
and turn away from evil. (ESV)I was up late last night because I wanted to fix and clean a camera lens. Today I am totally exhausted, my eyes are tired and I have not had enough sleep.
To add insult to injury, I did not succeed in my task, I only made things worse and the lens lies in bits awaiting another attempt at fixing it.
Worse still, I am covered in bites. Something is eating me alive, slowly, so I found it difficult to get to sleep. Today at work, my body itches and my brain is elsewhere. Not that it is anybody's fault but my own.
It is usual, at these times of facing up to my physical limitations, that I feel sorry for myself, wishing myself to be bionic or super-human. I huff and I puff.
The Tempter is there with me. Whether in person, or just in my memory from earlier experiences of my baser self, I cannot tell, but the result is the same. I want to curse at my frustration. I want everyone on my side because I want to overcome. I want to win.
I have a long journey to drive tonight, after work, and I do not think I can do it easily. I am in trouble, both with my wife and my Creator, and I know it.
Elsewhere I know the thought: The Devil wants to separate you from God's love and you are helping him here. Actually, you are doing a better job than he would be allowed to do.
A verse of salvation comes to mind: The joy of the Lord is my strength. Gradually, I am not alone. Yes, without a quiet time I am subdued, prickly and tired but I am no longer just left to my own devices.
PRAYER: Thank You LORD for Your Grace today, as
once more, I find that I am in need it. I offer up my praise to
Your awesome majesty. LORD, I rejoice that You died to set fools
like me free from the grasp of Evil.
LORD, cleanse the thoughts of my mind, grant in me a pure heart
and prune back my pride once more. Please grant in me enough
patience for the day and watch over my mouth. Oh, and LORD,
please grant us a safe journey. Amen.
Proverbs 31:10-12:- An
excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than
jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have
no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of
her life. (ESV)I love my wife for all that she is. We are a team in the Kingdom, firstly for each other and the family needs, and then for the Kingdom.
The trouble is that I find that so many things crowd into my life I often end up not giving her the attention, place or priority that she deserves (and she agrees!). Having been divorced, I am now in remission and a little more sensitive to my presumptions, mostly. Also my wife is no shrinking violet and so sooner or later I find out that I have transgressed either by my conscience pricking me or alternatively, a more direct approach.
I think one of the most important things we do together is to actively attempt to keep open the lines of communication. We pray every week to ask our Saviour into particular situations at work, at home or elsewhere. We try to be honest with each other, even when it is embarrassing and we try not to pray sideways! When all things are going well, this is a great joy for us.
Sometimes the process goes wrong and we become too worldly, goal orientated, or it becomes wretched because we have forgotten that Love comes first blessed by God and then as a mutual gift to each other. As we repent, forgive and cherish each other, because we loathe the separation caused by hurts and desires, we see God move even if sometimes we have to wait months or years to see the answers to our life situation!
I believe a good marriage is a metaphor for our relationship with Jesus. He always wants to take our side, wait alongside, hear our concerns, encourage us in the good, take away barriers between us, hold us close and let us know when we are out of order.
Ephesians 5:25-26:- Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, (ESV)
PRAYER: LORD, thank You for love. It makes us wonder at Your Love for us that sets us free from sin. Remind us what holy Love is, so we may cherish, not belittle the gift. Redeem, bless and set a guard over all holy marriages in our world today. Let them not to turn to dust in our hands. Bring words of Truth, Grace, Peace, Healing, Life, Vision and Hope today. Amen.
John 1:9-12:- The true
light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He
was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the
world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people
did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed
in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
(ESV) Are you a "God reaches down to us" or a "we stretch up to find God" sort of person?
As a boy, I found God by reaching up towards my creator as I looked to the cosmos through a telescope. Later, I pictured an awesome police officer God, who only had to say the word from a great height, and I would be no longer.
Well, I am still here, for the present anyway. Why am I here?
From a God-reaching-down perspective, all we have is His inspired Word in the Bible and His living Word revelation: Jesus who brings salvation to us.
Repeatedly, I realise I am guilty of failure, of wilfulness, of ignorance, of compassion fatigue and selfish indifference to the plight of others. I find that when I look towards God, He has reached down in His sovereign authority to remind me of His love for me, willing to forgive and to cleanse. Yes, there will come a judgement day. Yes, there are consequences for our actions. Meanwhile there is also compassion, deliverance and grace. Jesus loves this world, and He reaches down to dwell with us.
PRAYER: Lord, no matter what has happened, or
where we are, we are Yours, because we have come into Your
presence once more to ask for Your cleansing by Your sacrifice
made once for all. Forgive, we pray, our indifference, and touch
our lives again with Your presence and vitality.
Please inspire us to seek Your face and enable us to do Your
will no matter what the circumstances. Teach us again what it is
to commune with You, once more. Praise Your Holy Name. Amen.
Psalm 143:8 :- Let me hear
in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make
me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.
(ESV) Things did not work out with my first marriage. I suppose we grew up and the process changed us.
It is strange to recognise that God forgave me, long before I forgave myself, or before I was able to trust Him in to repair my lost self-esteem. God felt a million miles away as I hung on by my fingernails slowly slipping down the greasy slope into the Abyss.
Thankfully, during this time I was surrounded by a group of God's angels, some human, who threw me a lifeline. Very soon, perhaps too soon, I found someone in this group to walk with me. She was gentle but strong inside. One day a cloud arrived as I grasped at, and held, the relationship tightly and I decided that I never wanted to let her go.
In my mind, I saw her clutched in my hand. I remembered the plight of flowers clutched in the hand of a toddler that die, separated and out of reach of sustenance. In contrast, flowers that grow free, have unseen resources to come back to blossom again next year.
I had not given this new relationship to The Creator. I knew inside He wanted me to sort it out. I was miserable. The trouble was, after my broken marriage, my trust in all things personal had taken a severe knock and I was too scared of losing her to take the risk. To my shame, I fought and resisted for some weeks before I relented.
Having finally fulfilled this obligation to God of letting go, I wondered if I she would have me back. I am glad that eventually she said yes. Things are now different. The cloud has gone. God breathed new life into this relationship. We are now happily married for over eleven years.
Proverbs 3:5 :- Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. (ESV)
PRAYER: Father, in times of weakness and oppression strengthen us, so that we may be more able to follow You. In our day ahead, grant us wisdom, to see the need in those who travel alongside us, and Your grace to take You with us as we walk in step with them. Amen.
Matthew 7:24-27:- "Everyone
then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a
wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and
the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but
it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And
everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will
be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the
rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat
against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of
it." (ESV)Many have seen depicted in the media, the disasters that have occurred in recent years. I have viewed some satellite images of the seafront before and after a Tsunami from a few years ago. An image taken from before the disaster showed buildings right on the seashore. They must have known that seasonal storms would come and cause damage to the houses. Maybe they hoped that in the event they could be repaired and restored, maybe they had no other choice. Who knows?
From the subsequent havoc caused, no-one expected, or prepared for, a mountain of water to come and inexorably wash away, not only the buildings but, by the vastness of the surge, everything, even the very sea.front on which they stood. Today, post tsunami, there is a new shoreline where the access road once ran up to the backs of the houses. The comparison of the before and after pictures is one that is painfully striking, and an eye-opener to the enormous forces involved.
Jesus talked about building a house on the rock. His audience knew well the properties and attributes of sand and rock because it was a part of their everyday environment in the Middle East. They knew about seasonal flooding but I doubt if they had seen the likes of a Tsunami in their time. Today the above disaster has given me a fresh perspective to my western eyes of the picture of total destruction that is possible today.
When we became Christians we put our faith in Jesus, The Rock, because we knew that it was, as is still, right. Nothing can wash us away from His love and care as we reside on The Rock.
Have we quietly relocated to be nearer the waterfront, no longer trusting in Grace but in something else?
PRAYER: LORD, today, by the power of the Holy Spirit, please breathe into our hearts and minds afresh - so, like Mary (Luke 10:42), we may put aside the distractions of the world and rest in the simplicity of Your Grace and Love. Jesus we rejoice that You are The Rock and there is no other name by whom we may be saved, amen.
Proverbs:10:23:- Doing wrong
is like a joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of
understanding. (ESV)Tonight I have passed a student who was talking on a mobile telephone in my computer suite where I work. We do not allow casual mobile-phone ring-tones being used because students are here to work on their assignments. The noise and chatter is quite counterproductive to a positive learning environment, in my opinion anyway - and most of theirs who need to get their work done!
I stopped and waited at the end of the aisle where the student was seated until such a time that she looked up and connected her gaze with mine. Subsequently she looked a little sheepish and I made a glance with my eyes towards the door as a subtle hint to continue the conversation outside in the corridor! Nothing was said and she finished the call before things escalated to the next level. I guess she explained to the caller that there was a big man dropping heavy hints for her to desist.
In the past, I have had to loom large on others who think that they can just do what they want and get away with ignoring the rules of conduct, displayed on the walls, whilst in the computer suite. Now there is seldom the need. Mutual respect is understood by all - apart from the inevitable wise guys!
It made me consider how sometimes we just know that God is watching over us, looking. Nothing is said, but we, in turn, know that we are obliged to desist from whatever we are getting wrong according to His rules.
God is gracious, gentle and yet holy and just. A nod and a glance are usually enough for us to take the hint but woe betide anyone who invokes the need for further action!
I wonder if God is smiling down on us today?
PRAYER: LORD, we rejoice in Your Love that shows Grace towards us. Please forgive us when we go astray, and direct our paths in the way that we should go. LORD we want to live by Your rules and guidance because You died to set us free from sin. Please grant to us the wisdom and courage to understand what this means for our lives today, in the Name of Jesus, amen.
2 Timothy 1:7:- for God gave
us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and
self-control.(ESV)My wife prefers to iron and I prefer to vacuum: I believe it is a win-win situation.
Once again I vacuumed the carpets on a Monday morning, in a world of my own.
The previous week's outing of the machine had met with a hiatus, just as I was half way around the house. The vacuum stopped dead. That's another fine mess you have gotten me into, I remonstrated with the machine, and I have to go to work. It stood there stubbornly impassive averting my gaze, so there was no point in discussing it further!
I wiggled the wire - nothing! Being familiar with domestic appliances I decided to fix it, and after some checking, I removed six inches of the wire and created a fresh connection to the machine. Now, as I vacuumed up the detritus in the carpet, I was impressed with the effectiveness of the newly re-wired machine and I considered the previous state of the vacuum cleaner.
As the damage to the wire had increased, so less power had been able to get through to the motor, until eventually the link was so weak it had become totally severed and no power could get through at all. So too, I pondered how followers of Christ like me have become fractured and separated from the Power of God in our lives.
If we twist and turn from His will for us so our connection to the power of His Love can become damaged and the path for its access into us fractured. If we do not heed the warnings eventually we will become totally burned out, motionless, fearful and isolated!
Praise God, He is able to restore us to full power, to make good the channel of His Peace, His Presence and His Kingdom life.
PRAYER: LORD, we are amazed that once more Your will is to Love us and make good in us that which once was of the Kingdom, and has become broken and flawed. Please bring Your Power to bear in our lives so that we might be in Your hands today effective implements because we ask it in, and through, the Name of Jesus, amen.
Isaiah 30:20-21:- And though
the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of
affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but
your eyes shall see your Teacher. And your ears shall hear a word
behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," when you turn
to the right or when you turn to the left. (ESV)In early spring, the sun shines brightly in the sky at lower elevations than it does in the summer. Although its warmth is not so easy to feel on the body as it is with the summer's sunshine, it is a welcome promise of the warmer days to come. To me at least, the lighter, longer days are much better than the darker, colder, cloudy days of winter!
Thinking about this promise of warmer weather I looked up into the sky to see an aeroplane, trailing a line in white across the blue expanse. As I followed its progress I noticed the vapour trail changed to a grey shadow cast by the plane in the stratosphere mist ahead of it. By a quirk of timing, elevation and direction the shadow marked out a line in front of the plane continuing the white vapour trail left in its wake. It was almost as if someone had put a ruler to the blue ceiling and had drawn a line for the plane to follow. In effect it pointed the way ahead.
Of course it was just a coincidence if unusual, but it was an encouragement to me, a sign that made me reflect upon how God has a plan for each of us to follow. If we are willing there is line drawn in front of us. As today's scripture describes, there is a voice to guide us in The Way. We are never to be alone, God is always, always with us to influence and speak into our situations, body, mind and spirit.
It is in the nature of Jesus to seek out the lost and faithful and to speak Life into their lives and we can be a part of that, if we choose to follow the cues.
PRAYER: LORD, thank You for the joy that now flows from Your throne because You endured and overcame the limitations of this world. We rejoice that You Love us and did not shy away from a temporary sorrow, the pain of crucifixion, choosing to look ahead past that humiliation and injustice, to the eternal victory in Your resurrection Kingdom.
2 Corinthians 4:7:- But we
have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing
power belongs to God and not to us. (ESV)I decided to have some kippers, smoked herrings, today. I cooked them in the microwave, ate them with satisfaction and then washed up.
I had made the kitchen smell of smoked fish, so, I decided to put a little surface cleaner with some water in a mug and heat this up in the microwave to kill the smell. The aroma of disinfectant filled the kitchen and loosened the accumulated debris on the inside of the microwave.
Good I thought, as I sponged down the interior, all done. No more bacteria or fish smelling kitchen for my wife to come home to; no smoke flavoured custard or drink later!
It was then I turned my attention to the mug. After I had poured the water away, I noticed that the mug was clean-as-a-whistle inside. The action of the steam, microwaves and the chemicals had made such a good a job of it that I was prompted to rub the mug's surface with my finger to see if it had etched the ceramic glaze! No, it was just fine and perfectly clean, up to where the water mixture had been anyway! All the tea-stain was gone.
This was a beneficial by-product of the work of the steam and cleaner working together to clean the cooker. I had intended just to clean the microwave and, unasked for, it had clean the cup as well!
This thought came to mind: Sometimes we can be like the mug!
Unnoticed we become stained by the world and by our worldliness of attitude in the service of others. However, as we seek to serve our master, bringing His power into many and varied daily situations of Word and action, so we become His temporal vessel and we too are cleansed by His Presence! Praise be to God for His mercies.
PRAYER: LORD, forgive us when we become stained
and tarnished, dirtied by the world and our failures. Grant that
You will purify us and make us a fitting vessel for Your awesome
Presence within us to be effective in Your service once more
today.
May we be filled up and carry Your praises with us. Amen.
1 John 8-10:- If we say we
have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If
we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our
sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we
have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in
us. (ESV)I live at present in a gated collection of flats and houses. One of the down sides of having a designated parking space are there is no choice where to park the car! The space we have is situated right under the trees that at present are full of aphids busily depositing their by- product of a sticky sugar solution onto our car below. Not that I am complaining because at least we are not situated, like my neighbour, where the pigeons roost with their related overnight fall out!
I had waited until we have had some rainfall to go out and rubdown the car with sponge and chamois leather. I rejoiced in the fact that I have recently waxed the car from top to bottom because, due to its protection, all that was left after the rain on the car was water and not globules of aphid sticky stuff. As I looked at the beads of water sitting upright on the car roof, I thought about how easily the dirt had been to wipe off because the wax.
It made me consider how we, as Christians, have the potential advantage of being in the world but not of it. As we seek God's presence asking His forgiveness we are cleansed by God's Grace from all that is of the world and armed by the Holy Spirit we are girded up to face the world once more.
Of course, if we do not seek God's Grace and favour then we are going to find an increasingly tougher time to carry on successfully without the aid of God's Grace and Love around our lives. Without God's Grace, the detritus of life for me becomes sticky and tougher to remove, very quickly!
Ephesians 6:10-13:- Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. (ESV)
PRAYER: LORD, we give you thanks and praise because we can entrust our cares and our lives into Your safe and protective custody. You are our Rock and ever present help in times of trouble. You are always Faithful and Just, our anchor in the storm. We humbly ask today for You to come and live with us, wash over our lives today once more, in the name of Jesus Amen.
Ephesians 6:10-13:- Finally,
be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on
the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against
the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and
blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against
the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the
spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore, take
up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in
the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
(ESV)I work in an old Victorian building built in 1849 that has been annexed by a newer 21st. century one. There are connecting corridors with associated stairs to the new rooms.
During the construction of this upper bridge between buildings, I guess they have used scaffolding to provide a platform for the bricklayers to do their work. In the brickwork, they have left these small spaces at regular intervals along the wall, where the scaffold poles once fitted. No harm in that I guess, because I have seen this phenomenon many times elsewhere on newer constructions.
This corridor has an outer wall, which is made of metal RSJ’s (rolled steel joists) and sheet glass on the external side. Recently on my way through, I glanced out of one of these panes at the adjoining building, perpendicular to the corridor. There, hovering about the brickwork I noticed a wasp.
This wasp suddenly disappeared into one of these gaps. Maybe there is a nest in there already – maybe not? I wondered about how hard it would to be to extract this interloper, and any future fellow conspirators, from a four by one half inch entry hole which is in a corridor bridge over twenty-feet from the ground! Moreover, this was all just because someone had not filled in the mortar pointing properly with the appropriate plastic blanks made for the job!
I pondered what blanks are missing in my life that has left old gaps unfilled. Do I have any old memories, thoughts and actions that have, as yet, not been captivated by Christ? Any kink in my kingdom of God armour could one day let in a lot more than I first bargained for - unless I lay it down at the feet of Jesus today and allow him to fill in the blanks!
PRAYER: LORD, by Your Grace, please forgive us our weakness and open our eyes to the gaps we have in our lives. We rejoice that you have died and rose again to show us the way to Your forgiveness, loving-kindness and salvation. In the name of Jesus, we humbly ask that you will strengthen our resolve and fill in the gaps in our thoughts and hearts that are not a part of Your will for our lives today, amen.
Luke 24:36-39:- As they were
talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and
said to them, "Peace to you!" But they were startled and
frightened and thought they saw a spirit. And he said to them,
"Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?
See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see.
For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I
have." (ESV)Back in the summer I visited my parents and noticed wasps entering the roof space. So wasp spray at the ready, I launched myself up the ladder to the roof and sprayed. When no more wasps were to be seen, I plugged up the hole with a piece of expanded polystyrene and climbed down.
On our next visit Caroline noticed that the wasps had returned too!! So up the ladder I went, just the same as before. I found that the wasps had removed the polystyrene plug and brought several hundred of their co-workers along. They had patiently eaten their way back through! This time I glued two layers of thick plywood over their entry hole. Then I went inside the roof to see what I would find.
To my dismay there was a wasps' nest, nursery, queens and all!
Screwing up my courage, wasp spray and vacuum cleaner in hand, I removed all the existing evidence of nest and wasps.
I was touched by the event knowing there was more to this, but I was not able to pinpoint its significance.
Now, suddenly my eyes have been opened and I understand the relevance. I had, during times of stress and pride, become focused on the circumstances, not my Saviour, and in so doing provided a portal for doubts about God's love for me to sneak in and taken a hold. From this hive grew a swarm of fears which soon flowed freely in and out, feeding and growing on my sin.
Since then I have asked Jesus to dismiss these fears and doubts, by His Grace, Love and authority. He has cleansed my commotion, closed the unwanted gateway to fear and filled me with His peace and assurance - as He will to any who will trust His reality.
PRAYER: LORD, we are a sinful people, and even when we seek your countenance we sometimes manage to doubt Your Loving care for us. Forgive us our trespasses. Come Lord Jesus and reside with us. Please banish the doubts and fears that have infiltrated our lives and grant us Your touch of peace today, amen.
Romans 13:7:- Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes
are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom
respect is owed, honour to whom honour is owed. (ESV) Recently it has been my honour to be the father-of-the-bride, to Sarah. It was a lovely day and well organised by all, and a good time was had. Of course there came the time for speeches, that every father dreads the necessary preparation to convey a few appropriate musings!
I pondered what I would say only to realise that God was up to something. On the wedding day I sat down and prayed that I would be able to give God the honour. Instead I was reminded to give someone the honour as well as God!
When we got to the reception I found to my great delight that this man and his wife had made the cut for the small list of guests. So I knew what I had to do. I asked his permission to mention him before the speech. In truth, this was something I had waited over 20 years to do. To give this man the honour that he deserved for having the ear of God, not to mention the courage and faith, to come and pray in the early morning for the little bundle of hope that was apparently soon to die. The Word he brought with him was "God has a Father's heart!" This is something in the years since then I have found out to be The Truth.
Instead of dying when we, including the paediatrician (also a Christian), prayed together, Sarah got instantly better. Not well, but a fourfold increase in her strength! So I was glad to give this man the honour he deserved in front of all the guests, because I believed it was God's will to confirm His faithfulness to him.
Not what you would expect at a wedding, but I knew God was in it.
Let us give honour to whom honour is owed!
PRAYER: LORD, there are many unsung heroes in our lives. We thank you for them all and we ask that you continue to bless them, watch over them and grant them Your mercy and peace. To those who are already with you, we rejoice in their faithfulness and pray that they may enjoy their just reward, through the name of Jesus, Your Light in our darkness, amen.
Matthew 13:40-43:- Just as
the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the
close of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they
will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all
law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that
place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the
righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.
He who has ears, let him hear. (ESV)From my office window, I can see we have had a new electricity substation put in to accommodate the increase in demand for electricity. It is shielded from view by a lovely Cotswold-stone wall, six-foot high.
Weeds have grown up to a height of over eight-feet, which drape over the wall in plain view. Whilst they are pretty with their white and purple conically shaped multiple flower heads, they are not meant to be there.
It made me think about what goes on behind the facade of my life. Sometimes, I am fine for all to see, but secretly there are times when the weeds are taking root and growing. Finally, after a while of giving them permission to stay, they become visible by my action or inaction, what I have said or sometimes just from a look on my face.
It is great to know that Father God is with me, sinner that I am. He upholds me through the times of trial, change and transition that are afoot here in the University and in Cheltenham. His Power is not deterred by the weeds.
As much faith as I have, and that varies, I know like the walled off area, only a part of me is taken up with the transforming Power of God. Other areas are open to what the world blows in: weeds of envy, selfishness, fear and doubt.
Sometimes I fail, and sometimes I win! It is good to know the joy of the Holy Spirit destroying the weeds - pretty as they might seem at first glance - uprooted and burnt in His power. He came to reconcile people like me with His Grace, to hoe the ground, to wrest ownership from the weeds and to bless us, even when we fall.
PRAYER: LORD, we know that we are sinners and there is no hope in us. We repent of our sins and ask You to enlarge Your territory in us, to remove the weeds that have grown up in our lives. Clean us up and send us out today with the vital transforming power of Your Spirit, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Matthew 13:44:- The kingdom
of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found
and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has
and buys that field. (ESV) When I was a small boy almost asleep in the dark, the walls would suddenly move to be at least one hundred feet from my head. In my mind, I fought this response of my subconscious and my semi-comatose dream state. With the super- human effort needed to make my arm burst into life, I reached out to find that light switch cord. My mind told me it knew where it was, at most, eighteen inches from my head. With beating heart, I would fumble and miss the cord as it retreated further into the distance.
It was so good to hook up with and grab that light-switch cord, wrap it around my finger and pull hard. A light would spring into life to prove the lie and allow my visual senses to give the rest of my being a good talking to.
As an adult, I can be separated from this world. I can be physically only inches away from my wife but, to my inner-self, it might seem miles away. Even as we pray, she could be on another planet. I look back up to her now distant countenance as my inner-being falls into an opening void beneath my feet. There is no sound, no sensation, just me falling on my own: alone, standing and falling, ever downwards.
In this maelstrom of isolation I know I need to reach out with all I have, not trusting in what I hear, but trusting in what I know to be true: Jesus is Lord over all and He is faithful. With what little effort I can muster I pray against the darkness below and I reach out to Jesus, my Saviour, my Light-switch cord.
He is always there. Wounded and drained but no longer alone, the ground once more has re-formed under my feet.
Matthew 18:20:- "No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light. Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away." (ESV)
PRAYER: Dear LORD, thank You for the power of
prayer and for those You bring to share our walk with You. Thank
You that it does not matter what state we are in, whether body,
mind or spirit, You are able to reach us even when we cannot feel
or perceive it.
Thank You LORD for the authority of Your promise that where two
or three are gathered in Your name You are there, waiting.
Amen.
Isaiah 45:9-10:- "Woe to him
who strives with him who formed him, a pot among earthen pots!
Does the clay say to him who forms it, 'What are you making?' or
'Your work has no handles'? Woe to him who says to a father,
'What are you begetting?' or to a woman, 'With what are you in
labour?'" (ESV)I went into town the other day and was attracted by the sound of a woman's voice reverberating off the surrounding buildings. As I came closer to the point of origin, I found a very smart woman speaking on her mobile phone. By her tone of voice, I could tell she was not happy with the other person. She walked this way and then that: back and forth looking. Not wishing to get a firm rebuke, I passed by and continued on my errand.
On my way back from this chore, I was surprised to find the same person still talking on the telephone. This time her voice was almost into the supersonic sound range as her frustration discharged into the street. To me she sounded reminiscent of a gaggle of tropical fruit bats chattering away as they fight over their food. Reflecting on personal experience, I thought it best to leave well alone because she seemed not to be dismayed, just emotionally aggressive. I presume someone was in for trouble when they finally met up. I hoped for his sake, it was not a first date!
Anyway, as I wandered off and I realised that this had to be written down.
No amount of remonstrating was going to make any difference. I believe she needed to be still, listen to an understanding voice and clear directions.
Lately, I have allowed the inner little boy to get the better of me, in my talk with God. I have remonstrated with God about my personal circumstances. I have been presumptuous and proud, like the clay telling the potter how it wants to be formed. Now I have confessed my error and so I have been forgiven. What a joy it is to find my way into His presence! Jesus said: "follow me".
Luke 9:23:- And he said to all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. (ESV)
PRAYER: LORD, please quieten our hearts and minds, enable us to let you have your way in our lives, and guide our path today, in Jesus' name. Amen.
Exodus 3:10-12:- Come, I
will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the
children of Israel, out of Egypt." But Moses said to God, "Who am
I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel
out of Egypt?" He said, "But I will be with you, and this shall
be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought
the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this
mountain." (ESV)Here in England we have a bi-centenary anniversary commemoration for the abolition of the slave trade enacted on the 25th. March 1807. Despite the hard work by William Wilberforce I cannot but have mixed feelings towards it. For how can we celebrate something that should not have been started in the first place! Nonetheless, history shows us that unless those with integrity stand up for the oppressed, powerful people can, and will do, anything, unless they are challenged. It will be of interest to see how our different communities, local, national and international, contend with the potentially divisive mixed messages that will no doubt be broadcast world-wide.
It has reminded me of a past event recorded in the Bible when someone sought to exploit a group of people ruthlessly and mercilessly. However, what the Pharaoh had not perceived was that this particular group of people had a champion who was not unable to deliver them!
Subsequent history is full of the examples of how godless people have sought, and succeeded in some cases, to exploit one group or another in various parts of the world. None were able to stop it.
I expect God is looking for those who are prepared to forsake their personal comforts and take a risk with their lives to go into their world and make a difference. As John Wimber has said in his DVD video: “The Cost of Commitment” (published by Vineyard Music, Toronto, Ontario, Canada) faith is spelt R, I, S, K!
Moses was initially reluctant to obey and go to speak out for this oppressed assortment of people. Eventually he relented and trusted in the authority and power of God to prevail. I have been called to go where I am sent; presently this is to be where I am!
Where will we be with God today?
PRAYER: LORD, we live in a world full of conflict, suffering and greed. Forgive us when we have become a part of that, whether in thought, word or deed. LORD, grant us the grace to be able to see where the need is today and enable us to make the difference, even if it is a little bit scary, because we ask this in the Name of Jesus, amen.
Ephesians 2:4-10:- But God,
being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he
loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive
together with Christ--by grace you have been saved-- and raised
us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in
Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the
immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ
Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this
is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of
works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared
beforehand, that we should walk in them. (ESV) I have often wondered in the heat of the moment, when things and people have seemingly conspired to clog up the works of my smooth running day: "Why me"? Of course, the answer comes rushing back from somewhere within my inner being: "Why not" and "What makes you so special"? I am a realist.
I have become frustrated when I have tried my very best before God to do something and this something has not been allowed to happen. I thought I was doing the right thing: surely, it was the right thing to do? Why, did I not succeed? What was God doing? Sometimes, it has to be said, that it has nothing to do with anyone else except me. For this I accept full responsibility. It is my fault. Again, a voice from within said: "No, this cannot be"! It must be to do with some other person or factor? "No," the reply rebounds, "it was just down to me" - I failed.
It should remind me, when it happens, to be more honest with myself and having confessed my frustration and my limitations to Jesus, I then need to allow Him to deal with my guilt and self-centredness. Grace is a wonderful thing. I used to want - and still do when I am not careful - to be someone who has even more successes than I do have at present. Of course, if I were good at everything I would not be me! However, Jesus loves me as I am, accepts me where I am and, so should I. What makes me so special? Jesus does because He loves me in my failures and sometimes even in my successes!
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, take me as I am and cleanse me from deep within. Thank You that You do not treat us as our sins deserve. Please enable us to accept who we are in You and guide us in what we do today under Your protection. No matter what the world says we want You to be pleased with us and with all that we do: both as individuals and as a part of Your community. Amen.
Hebrews: 12:2:- Therefore,
since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us
also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and
let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking
to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy
that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame,
and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
(ESV)By my desk, I have a window. It is good to look out and see the local hustle and bustle of life down in the street below. Lately, they have built a house on the footprint of an old garage. It looks as if it will leave no more than ten feet from the back of the new house to the original one; such is the pressure for housing locally!
I become aware of the elements through this window, the wind and the rain that buffet the windows, scratching, hissing and whining at the cracks in the frames and then the sun shining through panes. Life passes by.
It occurred to me this week as I looked, that the window was dirty and in need of a clean on the inside, the outside is beyond reach. I wiped off the dust and the dribble stains on the glass and rejoiced in the clearer view.
Sometimes people I know wave at me through the window and I wave back, as a gesture of personal humanity.
I believe Christians can sense the unseen God here and there, as we look out and in turn, He meets us through the window of our inner being. Of course, this inner window is all too often in need of a good clean so, metaphorically, we can see God better. I know He is pleased to associate with us, all our comings and goings, and in turn He wants us to look outwards, to see all that He is doing as He works out His purposes locally day-by-day.
Maybe we could spend a little time with Him today and give a wave of prayer. You might be surprised at the difference it makes to both giver and receiver.
PRAYER: LORD, we rejoice that You have always been interested in us, for this is why we were created. Thank You for the way of life found in believing in Jesus our Redeemer. Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts today by Your Holy Spirit presence and accept our offering of praise as we wave back to say: Hi! Amen.
2 Corinthians
2:14-17:- But thanks be to God, who in Christ
always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads
the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the
aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among
those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death,
to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for
these things? For we are not, like so many, peddlers of
God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by
God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ. (ESV) When I cycle into work, I pass by a woodshed where pallets of sawn wood of various lengths and thickness are stacked and kept dry. Sometimes when I pass by, and the wind is in the right direction, the lovely fragrance of pine wafts over me.
I grew up with pine trees in our garden. I can still remember the difficulty of removing the pine-resin after I had gleefully climbed the firs, and it had stuck to my hands. It was a time of growing. I was a bit of a handful. I still am, but God loves me and meets me where I am.
This all-pervading smell of pine prompted these questions: When we wake up and greet the day, do we smile, or grimace? How do we perceive ourselves? Do we allow the fragrance of Jesus to permeate deep into our lives to bring His grace, to wash our sins away, or do we focus on our shortcomings? Do we rest in and enjoy God’s company, or have we become nodding acquaintances who pass Jesus by in the morning, or evening, like workday commuters we greet Jesus: “Hello-Goodbye, catch you later”.
How deep does our faith go? Jesus wants all of us, all the hopes, foibles, sins and secrets so that He can redeem us, encourage us and grow us. Through us He will be the fragrance of Life to the living and a challenge to those seeking Life.
So are we ready to be vessels capable of carrying the fragrance of Jesus to others, cleansed by the blood of Jesus? Have we allowed God’s love to penetrate past the surface, so the aroma of Jesus remains? Will it linger with others after we have moved on: or have we become commuters conformed into the world’s mould?
PRAYER: LORD, we come to You in humility and
hope that You will restore us. Not because we are something
special but because we know You are the Son of God. We ask for
Your consecration so that we may be fitting vessels to carry Your
Holy Presence with us as we go.
Holy Spirit may Your fragrance splash over into the places you
take us to today, in the Name of Jesus, amen.
Luke 15:4-7:- "What man of
you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not
leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one
that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he
lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he
calls together his friends and his neighbours, saying to them,
'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.' Just
so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner
who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no
repentance. (ESV)I went for a walk the other day up on top of the Cotswolds near where I live before I went into work. Being un-predisposed to walking up the hill in the first place, I drove to the car park.
In the car park was an older man sat on the floor of an open hatchback looking despondent. He could see that I was up there for a walk and asked me to look out for his dog that had gone. It was a mongrel, which liked chasing the many rabbits that are a part of the warrens on the hillside. Apparently, it liked chasing rabbits so much the little darling had gone off on its own. Previously, when it had happened before, he had waited two hours for the dog to return in its own time!
After my walk, and having looked myself in the interim, I found the man still awaiting the dog's return. By now, he had reinforcements to go off with him to see what they could do to unearth the mystery of the dog's departure along the track where he had been.
It reminded me of the patience, and perhaps exasperation that God must feel for us when we go off on one of our little excursions to outside the will of God.
Of course, He is not fazed by us going missing because He knows exactly where we are, but that does not mean that He has to like it!
I expect the dog got back ok, but who knows what hidden dangers there are up there: holes and wire fences to get stuck in; not to mention the cliff edge? I wonder what happened?
It made me ponder where am I? Am I walking alongside the Master or off on some spree?
PRAYER: LORD, thank You that You are not fazed
by our little trips off in our mind, or even in the real world. I
rejoice that You are always there to set us free, if we have the
wit and will to avail ourselves of Your love.
We say to You "woof," meaning: look, remember me, I am back. As
we praise Your goodness to us through Your Grace dwell with us a
while today. Amen.
John 4:23-24:- But the hour
is coming, and is now here, when the true worshippers will
worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking
such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship
him must worship in spirit and truth." (ESV)When I was a teacher I used to make up word-searches for students. So, when doing one I look with a keen eye to find the words, and also to see if there were any unintentional mistakes. These can be anything that makes it impossible to successfully complete the task! I become a Mister Picky! For a successful outcome requires patience, concentration and a careful eye for the task.
Per chance I checked a word search sent to me recently. So with this past history above, I went into the storehouse of my brain, brought out the Mister Picky persona and went to check through the list of words.
As I looked for a particular word, my brain stopped seeing the matrix as just a mass of hickaldy-pickaldy letters and switched into search mode looking for groups of words in a consecutive order, up, down, left-to-right, right-to-left and diagonally sifting for clues. Some words are easy to find because a letter contained in it is a lesser utilized consonant. So I scan to look for the letter or group associated characters (e.g. q, w, x, y or z etc.).
From within the superficial chaos of the letter matrix I found order, and soon the completion of my search. Too much information, I hear you say - well maybe, but it made me think.
Many of us read The Word but we do not seem to achieve the originator’s intended goal. We see the words but somehow we miss the revelation of God contained there in. We understand and rush through the facts but we do not connect to the God who is the instigator of all things. Maybe today might be a good time to redo our quiet times, just in case we missed a hidden word?
PRAYER: Dear LORD, thank You for being so
patient with us, as we rush into Your presence, then out, and off
again into the world. Thanks LORD for Your gift of Grace,
otherwise we would have no means of meeting with You our
Saviour.
LORD, if it is important to You, we want to hear it, so please
give us a second chance and send Your Holy Spirit to speak into
our lives today through, and because of, the blood of Jesus,
amen.
Ecclesiastes 2:24 –26:- There is nothing better for a person than that he should
eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw,
is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who
can have enjoyment? For to the one who pleases him God has given
wisdom, knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the
business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who
pleases God. This is vanity and a striving after wind.
(ESV)I love playing games, nothing too physical, with my wife. I delight in being daft, manipulating words; with anyone, silly enough to be around when I am in the mood. As I get older, this tends to have become verbal rather than physical!
I enjoy the satisfaction of working hard to achieve my personal goals, where there is the possibility of reaching an end to the task; I reach out for it knowing I can do it well, or at least believing I can bring it to completion.
However there are also tasks that are on going, open-ended and never ending, where there is little chance of a short-term fix. I dislike these goals with a passion, especially those that I sense I cannot conquer, or I have failed at in the past. Worse still, are those I know will become harder with increasing age. Some of these are personal, some are imposed upon me by others and some by the circumstances in which I will find myself.
As a young man, I delighted in my ability and strength to be able to do and be what I thought I had a right to be. Now that I am older, I recognise my conceit and presumption was great. Yet I still aspire to the conceit, in the full knowledge that my acquisitive nature will never cease, it is a part of being human.
Today I recognise that God is not distant or indifferent to my daily tasks, a bolt-on extra or addition to help me when I fail, rather I believe I am what I am with Him and this includes every task small or great, seen or unseen, in my daily walk with Him as my God-given breath allows!
Psalm 127:1-2:- Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labour in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. (ESV)
PRAYER: LORD, in all our doing during this day, we ask You into our lives once more to permeate our being. Like sherry in a trifle or sunshine through the storm clouds, may Your fragrance and light be evidenced in what we do and think so that there is rejoicing in heaven and rest for our body, soul and spirit whilst we are still on earth. Amen.
John 14:21:- Whoever has my
commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who
loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and
manifest myself to him. (ESV)I am dyslexic and for those, like me, the cost is high to unscramble my jumbled thoughts into a straight line onto a typed page. As a result this acts as a filter to what I write. These musings of mine, but for computers, spell checkers and the world-wide-web, would have stayed just that — musings.
I have bright ideas that seem good, momentarily. Many of them have never seen the light of day, expunged because either I, or they, were just not right in some way. So I look for a hint of a scriptural echo, or a point of correspondence within, that might betray our Creator's prompting before I commence.
When I read a devotional again, it can speak to me in a way that I have not previously seen. So I ask the question: Was it really me? Perhaps God wants to remind the writer that each devotional was given firstly as a word to us, the writer as a joint venture! I believe this synergy is a natural outcome for anyone living under a grace relationship in Jesus whatever they do - hopefully in this case as I spill my brains onto paper.
Often I have been challenged to realise the spur that got me to the keyboard was not the real point to convey at all. It was just a prompting to get me to tune in to God's word, so to type up a more salient thought that has elbowed its way through to take its place at the front of stage — just like today!
I believe God is willing to speak to anyone who will obey His will and seek His voice, if only we will be still, put time aside to listen and pray.
Maybe we can then be called to share what we have heard?
PRAYER: LORD, it is a wonderful thing to know that we can pray to You and know that you hear our small voices, no matter who we are, where we are, or what our circumstances might be. Please speak Your words of eternal life into us today so that we may carry Your Presence with us as we go into the day ahead - not trusting in ourselves alone but resting in Your company, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
All are welcome to reproduce this booklet on a not-for-profit basis, to the aid of the Kingdom of God. The ownership of the content resides with me for all the non-biblical and non-referenced material or with the respective publishers!
All scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, published by HarperCollinsPublishers © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
HarperCollinsPublishers have their own copyright licence protection issues that allow scripture verses to be quoted on a not-for-profit basis provided they are less than 1,000 verses in total and quotations referenced " (ESV)" which I have complied with and checked (I made it 490 verses!) but let me know if I have missed one!!
Consequently inclusion of this material in any other media must be done with due consideration of the above and discussed with "HarperCollins Publishers":GB and EU - HarperCollins Religious, 77-85 Fulham Palace Road, Hammersmith, London W6 8JB, England. Elsewhere: USA - Good News Publishers, Attn: Bible Rights, 1300 Crescent Street, Wheaton, IL 60187, USA, or me for devotional content respectively.
May God continue to bless those that read this work, even as He has blessed me in the writing of it!
Rod Marshall
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire
England
Sarah's Miracle
After nearly twelve years forgive a little paraphrasing of the next section, it is as I remember it with some things missed out for no ulterior motive other than to get on with the narrative.
In 1988 after various unexpected events I found myself in a job far from where I had expected to be, in every sense of the word. I was a caretaker in a school deep in the rural Cotswolds, 100 miles from my near family and friends. I had resigned from a job to which I had moved all this way, after three weeks, and was confused as to what God wanted or was to allow in my life. In my walk with God through quiet time and reflection, I was drawn towards the Abraham and Isaac story. I wanted to be able to say, as did Abraham, "yes of course I will entrust the child I have wanted for many years into your hands because I know that you are the giver of all good things and without your engifting I would not have had this child". Unfortunately I had not had the previous 30+ year dialogue that Abraham had established with God. Neither was I able to talk of entertaining angels etc., which must focus the mind.
God had asked me for my time, my car, my money and my house all of which, in the abstract, I had assented to. When it came to asking for my two year old daughter whom I love dearly, I just said:" no! Thus far and no further". It was not that I did not want to, it was that after all I had to thank God for, which was much, including the life of my then wife, Fiona, who had nearly died of malaria, I did not trust God enough because bad things have happened. Losing my daughter was not going to be one of them, even as an "abstract" thought. I was quite prepared to say "yes" but I knew, and God knew in reality, I would not have gone through with it as far as Abraham had. Hannah was too precious.
I knew that there were going to be consequences because of my lack of faith and the darkness that accompanied it. Wherever you draw the line in your life to say: Thus far and no further" is where the battle is fought. Oh yes it is a real battle but that's a story in itself.
My wife was heavily pregnant with our second child and about to give birth. This was a long labour, which I was not surprised by because Hannah, our eldest, was also a very long time arriving into this world.
At about 2:33am 9th. March 1988 Sarah was finally born. My wife said: "Is she alright"? My reply was: "Sure she'll be alright". The nurse gave me a long hard stare to say; "Who do you think you are fooling?" That look I can still see in my mind's eye.
I knew, it would not help the baby or Fiona (my wife at that time) to say to her "No it's all gone pear-shaped but do not worry anyway" but I did not think things were THAT bad until the nurse's stare. The paediatrician whisked the baby out of the room. After making various platitudes with the rest of the staff for the sake of my wife, to distract her whilst the obstetrician finished his tailoring, I made a hasty retreat to the paediatric intensive-care section.
When I arrived at the incubator, I looked into the plastic box and saw her lying there with a tube down her throat and an indicator somewhere on the filter, which said 90% oxygen. She would have cried if the tube were not in the way. Her mouth opened as if she would but nothing came out, except the tubing to the gas taped to her face. She opened one eye to look at me and I did cry. The paediatrician and the obstetrician were discussing what the problem was. They had, I think on reflection, suspected something for a little while because of a quiet heart-beat sound on the monitor. Sarah had a diaphragmatic-hernia. This, I was not please to hear, was what they both had dreaded.
Apparently it is a one-in-a-hundred-thousand occurrence where the stomach and intestines invade the chest cavity due to the failure of the diaphragm. The diaphragm usually seals - in four sections sealed together to make a whole - the chest off from the abdomen keeping everything in its proper place. In such cases of a failure some, or all, of the growth of the lungs is prevented by the presence of this other tissue. Depending on the severity of the condition some children are literally born to die because without lungs developed they cannot breathe air, surviving in the womb on the mother's blood supply of oxygen. Others with a minor deformation can survive. Sarah was halfway between normality and total incapacity with one lung and most of the diaphragm in place.
What they had both recognised was the diagnostic symptomatic migration of the heart.
This is where the stomach and intestines start to fill with blood. As they do so, they push the heart to one side to make room for the swelling tissue. If the moving heart (from left to right) condition is not recognised early enough, the lungs, such as they may be, become crushed by the invading tissue. This allows little, or no, room for the lungs to expand.
Apparently they have about 20 minutes to diagnose this irregularity and do something to stop this effect before it is too late. They did whatever they could and then left. The previous conversation that I had had with God came back to me.
It continued: "I want you to give her back to me." I cried and then I said, "OK". Then I thought: want am I going to say to Fiona? How do you ask a woman who has just given birth to give her child back into God's arms? I prayed, I was pumped full of adrenaline, or something.
I said to Fiona: "I think God wants us to give Sarah back into His arms". She said, "I think so too". I grew half-an-inch with relief and then I went down stairs to see Sarah. I prayed over her and gave her back into God's loving care. I cried and prayed some more. The consultant could not be bothered to get out of bed and visit during the early hours saying it would have to wait until morning. It is a good job I did not have access to find out where he was living, as I was very emotional!! Later having left it as long as I could, at about six in the morning, I rang my pastor Brian, told him the situation, and asked him to come and pray with me for Sarah, on the basis I still follow:
It is not over, until it is over. (See David praying before God: 2 Samuel 12:15ff)
On arrival he said to me "I believe that Father is saying to me: He has a Father's heart". This we took as a good sign. Brian was very good and brave to travel the twenty-mile journey from Newent to Cheltenham into our situation. For this I will always be grateful. (I have been glad to be able to give him the honour at Sarah's wedding in 2008, see above ). The paediatrician, Ruth, arrived again to see what was going on. It is common for babies to die in this early struggle for life. She commented that she was glad that Sarah was a girl because it was, in her opinion, they "fight better for life!"
The paediatrician asked what Brian and I were about to do. I said we are going to pray for Sarah. She said she was a Christian too and joined us in prayer. We prayed for Sarah's healing. Ruth, the paediatrician quickly moved off to do something. She had noticed that Sarah had suddenly started to struggle violently with the tubing, having spontaneously radically increased in strength. She said that she had to quadruple Sarah's sedation medication to stop her fighting the tube in her throat because of this sudden increase in strength. It seemed that this was a direct answer to all our prayers. This we took as an exciting step in the right direction.
I think it was later that day (or it may have been on our return from Bristol some days later on a visit to show off the baby, I do not remember exactly. Time was all relative) Fiona and I decided to call Sarah, Ruth for her middle name after the doctor who had got her church to pray for Sarah. So it is today!
Meanwhile, because of Sarah's sudden increase in strength, the doctors decided she was strong enought to be able to be transferred to Bristol's Children's Hospital. They considered that she might be strong enough to survive the operation to put her intestines and stomach back in their proper place!
During the day I was desperate to hear what God was saying to me. Eventually it arrived: "Do not be afraid, just believe". I dared not believe that this was what God had really said, but I did do my best to hold on to it.
Sarah was operated on, and then she was on life support for a further three weeks. All the time I prayed in faith over her incubator when I got back from work. Mr. Shaw, my headmaster, was very gracious and let me go to hospital early from work, after I had done most of the essential daily duties.
We had been allocated some accommodation in Bristol and Fiona was moved from the ward into this flat near the hospital. My parents looked after the house for a week or so, and then decided they had had enough and wanted to go back to their own house. We needed to go back to Tewkesbury to sort things out. There was Hannah to think about too, she was confused by all this trauma.
Before our departure we witnessed an episode with a male nurse, who seemed to be rather tentative about which machine did what, when and how - not what a sick baby's parent wants to see! He was like a conductor of an orchestra, setting off machine alarms, making his own little concerto: not very inspiring.
I was aware of God's hand on me at this time in a powerful way sustaining us through the trauma. He encouraged me not to worry about the people who were to look after Sarah, rather, I should continue in prayer trusting in Him because He was watching too.
They did some daft things to Sarah, because they were more used to treating heart problems, rather than lung problems. They were over-stretched and other things I will not mention, such as the deaths that were later to be investigated. I prayed against the Evil I felt present in that ward. I prayed for the over-ruling of God's authority over the shortcomings of these humans. I prayed for Sarah's healing with my hands outstretched over the incubator. This male nurse conductor was again on duty. He asked me what I was doing. I told him I believed God would heal my daughter. Another nurse who overheard this conversation looked incredulous, blanked me, and walked briskly away. This man however seemed more receptive to what I had said. I prayed in the Spirit, speaking in tongues and in English, over Sarah. Then We went home to Tewkesbury.
We left a blue-grey fleshed, and purple lipped, Sarah all alone in God's care. We asked various churches to pray for Sarah's healing.
When we arrived back on the Sunday afternoon Fiona said:"Where is Sarah? What have they done with her?" When I looked at where Sarah had been there was this beautiful baby with peachy skin and red lips. I knew it was Sarah.
The male nurse was on duty again and said. "It is a miracle". The nurse told me his account:
"It was early on Sunday morning when Sarah's temperature increased steeply and her pulse rate similarly became rapid. I called the doctors to check her over because I was concerned that there may have been a main-line drip infection (Sarah had direct tube link into her chest to pump in food and chemicals). When the doctors came, very early on Sunday morning, they agreed with the nurse's concern and ordered an immediate X-ray. When they came back with the results they were confused.
The X-ray plate they had, showed that there were two healthy lungs, which was different from what they had expected. They checked the plates. The earlier plate showed one lung. They asked if the plates had been misplaced or accidentally swapped around. They had not!
Sarah took about another twenty days to heal from the operation to her chest before she could breathe for herself, and it was with great joy that I put her over my shoulder and prayed for her.
I have witnessed to this event in various places to encourage faith in prayer, also in God.
Yes I entrust all three of my children into God's hands now because like Abraham I know that if it was not for God then Sarah would not be here today. (Likewise now in 2009, our latest: Zoë) How God healed Sarah does not matter to me. The important thing is that He heard me, and I heard His direction and followed it through, with what little faith I had.
If He had taken Sarah things would be different today.
He said to trust in Him, and He has proved to be faithful. During the time in hospital I prayed against a spirit of death that I felt near the incubator, and the next day or so, the baby in the cot next to Sarah died. Why did this not happen to Sarah? Only because it was God's will. Death is not the end, just a stepping stone into the heavenly realms, for those who trust in Jesus. I will always try to get the most out of God for myself: it is my nature. Now, though, I know I can begin to trust Him. Praise God!! When push comes to shove, NOTHING else IS important (something that I have found a great support and help as I re-write this in 2009!) because all things are contingent on God. He knows best. This is what Abraham had discovered in his trials and walk with God.
However, I am still learning about my calling, His Authority over me and His Love for us, but I believe I am just a bit closer than I was before the birth of Sarah. Praise be to God my provider, saviour and deliverer. Thanks be to his faithful servants wherever they are here on earth. May we follow their example and be faithful in watching and praying for His will to be done, Amen.
Update 2000
Sarah, now twelve-and-a-half years old, was admitted to hospital with pains in her abdomen this September 2000, with a suspected appendicitis. The scheduled forty-minute operation became a three-and-a-half hours long one, when they had to make a larger incision to find out the real cause of the problem. Eventually, when they saw the problem, they got a consultant surgeon over from another part of the hospital to operate! Her small intestine had become twisted and tied because of her growing so fast. She was nearly as tall as me. Apparently a piece of intestine had been pulled tight due to adhesions of her scar tissue from her operation at birth combining with, and sticking to, her intestines in one place and then also to the wall of her abdomen. Part of the intestine had become looped over a lobe of her liver. A bit like a "cat's cradle" (= A children's game where string is wrapped around the fingers on both hands and pulled tight in a mesh pattern)!
This was a big shock to us as Sarah has been so normal from the time of God's intervention and I have had to once more entrust Sarah into his hands from that day onwards.
Perhaps I had become complacent: who knows?
At the time I asked God: "Why was this part of the plan?". I can only surmise, because there was no verbal information forthcoming from God at this time, that this has served as a reminder of God's sovereignty over my family.
Now in 2009 I can rejoice in a successful outcome, but then, it was a very heart-in-mouth moment for someone who was suffering from oppression. Work, life and everything was put on hold for a week!
Sarah was totally out of it for the first week, because she was up-to-her-eyes in morphine and she still remembers little (in 2009), but we were there around the clock.
The relatively quick return to normality without the common complications associated with the surgery and the seriousness of the condition, now sorted out, has served to quicken my faith once more! (A reminder to me in 2009 as I review this for the new website)
After the uncertainty and shock of the situation, it showed me that sometimes God wants us to trust in Him without the reassurance of the "feely-touchy" presence of the Holy Spirit. We just need to believe His is always present regardless how things appear. We just worship, listen and pray!
After all God is omnipresent, and since that time in 2000, I have seen the cycle of life continue from being up to being down and then up again. How exciting it is! I now realise that there is no such thing as a "Spiritual Holiday", or just getting by with a nod to God as we go. I have found out we either sink or swim with Jesus. So we need to make the most of what we have been given. Get swimming.
Anyway here I am in 2009 with an update to say that Sarah has now passed her driving test in 2006 and I am delighted to see my feeble prayers for her well-being and safety answered according to the will of God.
For those who want prayer about anything, just email me! Deo Gloria
Update 2009
Sarah is now married, September 2008, to Richard her husband.
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