What if God hit pause?

This is just a thought. I can’t point to any particular Bible verse, or say with any certainty what the mind of God might be, but here are a few simple ideas about the current situation.

1. We live in such selfish and self centred times. Our natural human tendencies are currently being seen in the panic shopping, hoarding of goods, financial worry and feelings of loneliness and isolation. Am I trusting God is still in control of His creation?

2. The church in many places has become detached and irrelevant to the outside world. They don’t know us, trust us or care what we believe. If the outside world doesn’t come to us, do I go to them?

3. Christians, if anything like me, have become comfortable, dependant on ourselves and happy with the status quo. “We’re doing our best but people just don’t care”. Dutifully doing what we think is best, but how much is done out of genuine love of the Lord?

4. There is always somewhere to go, something to watch or listen to, something to occupy our minds every second of the day and night. Entertainment is 24/7. When do I give God any time? 

So what if God allowed, using His permissive will, an illness to spread to see what humanity would do? To see how His people would react? We know that to God, all life is precious, from the unborn child to the elderly adult. Each person passing away through Covid-19 has either accepted or rejected God’s wonderful offer of salvation, the chance to have their sins forgiven through faith in His son. The bible clearly shows “The Father sent the Son (Jesus) to be the saviour of the world”. 

But to a world (and maybe a church) so preoccupied with themselves, with lives so full of entertainment and sport, how does God reveal Himself? If you’d told me last year every cinema, club and bar, restaurant, cafe and sporting event were to be closed, not just in the UK but in many of the countries around the world, I’d never have believed you. But they have. Perhaps now, God can be heard.

But how? 

The Lord Jesus told His followers that “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself."

‭‭Luke‬ ‭10:27‬

It’s really encouraging to see churches and Christians reaching out to their communities. They aren’t the only ones of course, but they’re showing the love of God to others. They’re also reaching out to other members of their church, behaving like a family would. Thinking “What are their practical needs? Would they like a phone call? Can I pray for them?”

They’re looking to meet the needs of others with what they have, sharing and not keeping it to themselves.

They’re looking to God with greater trust, because in the uncertainty of it all, what else can we do? It’s unprecedented. It’s unheard of. But in the uncertainty of it all, God remains the same, faithful and present. So many of us Christians are finally able to put into practice the advice of God to “Be still and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10. Self isolating and social distancing were unknown concepts (to me at least) until recently, but they’ve allowed us all a chance to slow down and appreciate the important things in life. To give God some quality time. 

Also, now that the churches can’t meet in person, they’re having to come up with ways to “meet”, to keep in touch. It reminds me of Peter’s letter to the “Strangers and pilgrims” who were scattered due to persecution. Peter’s advice was “Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2:12‬ ‭

The one lesson I’m hoping to learn and put into practice is that the world is watching. What if they saw the measure and practicality our love? What if they saw the genuine nature of our faith? Whay if they saw that our hope was truly like an anchor for our souls? What if they saw that the church listened to the wisdom of God-gifted doctors and nurses? What if they saw that when difficulties came, the Church was the tangable body of God in this world. 

Wouldn’t that make all this worthwhile? 

Thank you for reading a few scattered thoughts, I’d love to know yours too. Please leave a comment below, particularly if you’ve a verse that you’re finding helpful. And as with all of these things, any sharing of the post to Christian friends is appreciated. 

For Him and His glory. 

Patience

Patience may be the greatest answer to our deepest problem

We've all been there. The foot tapping, constantly checking the time, searching the crowd. Waiting is never enjoyable. The longer the wait, the more frustrated we feel. 

Where are they? What’s taking so long? Why aren't they here? 

We can all be guilty of showing impatience. The more we’re looking forward to something, the slower it seems to come round. If most people had to name a weakness or fault they were conscious of most, i imagine for many it would be impatience.


This impatience is often magnified when it comes to waiting on God. 

We know we should, and we know it’d be best, but we cant help it. 

Why isn't He bringing me that job? Where is the husband/ wife I’m looking for? When will this illness leave? When will my finances improve?

Waiting for God can be frustrating at times, and not knowing when or how He will act also can cause us to doubt His promises. Many of the Old Testament saints experienced periods of waiting for God. Hannah had prayed for many years. Abraham tried to speed up God’s promises. The people of Israel grew tired of waiting for Moses to return, so they built a golden calf to worship. 

The chance to save him was lost, and all hope had gone.


When we come into the New Testament, we find that patience is still in short supply. Mary and Martha have sent for the Lord Jesus. They tell Him “Lord, he whom you love is ill” (John 11:3). They waited for Jesus to come and heal their brother Lazarus. “Surely He’ll come?” They thought. “He loves Lazarus, why wouldn't He?”. They must have been sad when Lazarus died, and they buried their brother in a tomb. The chance to save him was lost, and all hope had gone. They had patiently waited, but Jesus had failed to help. But God’s timing is different to ours. Sometimes He wants us to go through trials and temptations to increase our faith, and so that when He does act, it’s in a far more miraculous way. Had Jesus gone to Bethany, He could have performed a miracle and given Lazarus his health back, but instead He was going to demonstrate a far greater miracle than that, He would bring him back to life.


There, outside of the village Martha met Jesus, and said “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” (John 11 v 21-22). How right she was! Lazarus wouldn't have died, but then they all would have missed out on a wonderful experience! Standing at the graveside, Mary and Martha were reunited with their brother, four days after burying him. How deeper their appreciation would be for their friend Jesus, no longer just the healer of the sick, but the restorer of life! How much stronger their faith would be in “The Resurrection and the Life”.


What about us? Do we always expect our prayers to be answered that same day? or week? 

Perhaps sometimes they are. Maybe it will take many months, or even years, to see God respond to our hearts deepest longings. But could it be that God is trying to teach us patience? It may be that He has something far greater in store if we just wait. 

Patience may be the greatest answer to our problems!

Yours in Him

Dan

Questions to consider:

What are you waiting for most at this moment in time? 

How can you increase your patience?

What other bible verses would encourage us to wait on God's timing?

Are you prepared? Part 2

In the last blog post, we looked at the warning God gave to King Hezekiah (2 Kings 20 v 1-3) "Are you prepared??". This first part looked at how a non-Christian might respond to news that their life was to soon come to an end. But how would a Christian respond? 

I think firstly, there would be a sense that we had unfinished business. There were places we'd still like to visit, people we'd want to see before we go, but ultimately there would be a lack of fear. Death contains no fear for those who are certain of their eternal home.

Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord

When a person comes to know Jesus Christ as their Saviour, they gain something this world can't guarantee. Peace. 

Peace within, peace with God, peace of mind, peace about eternity. "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:1) We have peace with God when we believe in Jesus His Son; His perfect life and sufficient sacrifice for sin. This peace is given to us the moment we believe through faith. Instantaneous, and eternal!

There is also the knowledge that a Christian has of where they will spend eternity. To know the destination makes the journey all the more bearable. "Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself." Phil 3 v 20-21. A Christian already has a hope that they'll be in heaven because they're already citizens there. Waiting for a day when they will go there forever. 

But this takes us onto our next point. These bodies of ours, which sin, and age and eventually die, will one day be changed. We (Christians) will be given a new body, an incorruptible body, just like the The Lord Jesus. "For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling." (2 Cor 5 v 1-2). Our earthly bodies are temporary and decay and are marked by sin, but there's a heavenly and permanent body to come. Just like a fish's body isn't suited for life on land, our current bodies aren't equipped for heaven, but one day all that will change. 

Finally, (and there are many more we could add), we will try to live a life that is pleasing to God. "Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God." (Col 1:10) God wants us to live for Him all through our lives, not just in the easy times, or when we want. There is a future reward for all of the work we have done for Him, and while our work doesn't save us, it does bring rewards in heaven. I hope today you could honestly answer that you'd have the peace of God (through salvation), hope of a future home in heaven, corruptible bodies in the future to look forward to and are living lives which are pleasing to God; waiting to hear those words "Well done, you good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little, I will set you over a lot. Enter into the joy of your master" (Matt 25:21)

Yours in His name

Dan x

Being Ready

I acknowledge that the last two posts (Testimony and Commendation) i’ve written were very personal, and quite long in length, so this post will be short. 


You may never be a David, Moses or Abraham........but will you be a Shamgar?


Looking back on your Christian life so far, how would you evaluate it? Has it been consistent? Has it peaked and troughed through periods of spiritual highs, and sinful lows? Mine, more often than not is like the second description. Sometimes we can be guilty of comparing ourselves to the great men of the bible. We look at the faith of Abraham, the trust of Joseph, the courage of Paul, the reign of King David, the wisdom of King Solomon, the spontaneity of Peter or the friendship enjoyed by Moses. 

I believe that God wants faithful, consistent lives lived for Him

I often feel that the work I try to do for the Lord is insignificant. That it doesn’t achieve any real results. That there doesn’t appear to be any blessing. But when did God promise to bless everything we do? At what point did He tell us all our efforts would bear fruit? He didn’t. He told us that “Salvation is of the Lord”. It’s His work and He will bless it and increase it when He sees fit. Also, He doesn't guarantee that we will have a life filled with momentous occasions when we write our names in history. I believe that God wants faithful, consistent lives lived for Him, waiting for any doors to open for Him to use us, whether for small victories or mighty battles.

When God calls, am I ready to serve Him?

In Judges 3:31 we read of one event in the life of a man named Shamgar. All we learn of him is the name of his dad, and that he killed 600 Philistines with an ox goad (Or “cattle prod”, it was a long, pointed, wooden stick). We don’t read about lots of events in his life, or about many great and wonderful victories. We read that when God needed him, Shamger was raised up and strengthened to defeat 600 members of the enemy. This isn’t one of the longest, deepest, or most encouraging posts......but I want to encourage myself and any readers with this thought; When God calls, am I ready to serve Him? I may only get one opportunity; God may use someone else if I say no. Am I ready? Am I listening? Am I willing? The result of Shamgar doing God’s will that day was that “He also saved Israel”. Perhaps God wants to use you to save someone today, are you ready?


“After him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who killed 600 of the Philistines with an ox goad, and he also saved Israel” - Judges 3:31


Thank you as always for reading and sharing these posts. May they be used for the Glory of God. In the comments section below, please leave your answer to this question... What work has God called you to do for Him recently?

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Testimony

Well as Thursday approaches, I’m looking forward to a special day; my 28th birthday!! I love celebrating birthdays, and I’ve had some really enjoyable ones through the years. From weird and wonderful home made cakes, to full on 21st parties and precious time spent with friends. And then the presents! What wonderful presents; far too many to name.....but all of them greatly received.

But I thought it was time to write about a more important birthday, the one that celebrates the day I trusted Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of my sin. I don’t know an actual date, but I do know where I was, how old, and why. 

This for those who don’t know it, is my testimony.

“Truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again”.


Firstly, I was 7 years old, and for as long as I can remember had been taken along to “church” as I knew it. Now of course I know that the name refers to the “people and not the steeple”, the Christians who go and not the building they meet in. I had for a long time been under the impression (wrongly) that I was safe in the knowledge that I was going to heaven one day, based on the fact that my parents took me everywhere with them. But aged 7, during a week of children’s meetings which I think were taken by Jim McMaster, I understood for the first time that wasn’t the case. Throughout the week we learnt the verse John 3:16 (which is a lot of the reason why the John 3:16 day event was so close to my heart – Sowing), and I eventually realised that I needed to trust in the work of Calvary for myself.  Just as my parents wouldn’t be taking me to heaven, I likewise wouldn’t be going to a lost eternity with them.....I’d be on my own. I had to have personal faith, in the sacrificial death of Jesus for me and the sins I had done.



So one night during the week (unknown to me the night after my best friend Sarah had been saved) I went home and kneeling by my bed, confessed my sins to God; acknowledged with my simple understanding that I was guilty before a Holy, all seeing God and believed that Jesus died to pay for them. I experienced immediate happiness and I wanted to phone everyone I knew. Sometimes I wish I could have bottled that joy. How I could do with it on so many occasions, to go back to that point in time when I appreciated what I had been saved from, and blessed with. Quick question....Have you had a moment like this? Not necessarily knowing the date or time, but definitely having done it yourself? I hope you have, and if you haven’t, now is a great time to!



What next? Surely I went on to be an amazing Christian, missionary, evangelist? Sadly not. I wasted 7 years (And many more in the future), as I thought I had done enough. I had ticked the all important “Salvation” box, and anything else was a bonus. That idea would change very quickly when I was 14. Sitting in my cousin’s lounge, people took it in turns to explain when they got baptised and why. It came round to me, and I didn’t have an answer. Worse still, I had no excuse. So, I plucked up the courage a few weeks later to ask to be baptised, which I eventually was with a very good friend Stuart, and we came into fellowship the weekend after. Since then, my bible reading and study has been sporadic at best, and my devotion to the Lord fluctuates more often than I’d like, but my Saviour and Lord has never failed me. He is always there, always willing, always encouraging. I’m so pleased that my salvation has never been based on how I live or how good I am. I’m saved forever because of the precious shed blood of the Son of God, shed so many years ago because of His unfailing love. (If you want to know more about what He did, you can read it here - Suffering Saviour.)

Why did I need a second birth though?

Jesus told a Pharisee named Nicodemus that “Truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again” John 3:3 (ESV). Heaven is only for those who are “Born again”. Nicodemus naturally exclaimed “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” John 3:4 (ESV). Jesus however wasn’t speaking about physical birth. We are all born once, and we all die once, just like our original ancestors Adam & Eve. But they had sinned against God, and the effects of that sin has passed down through every generation of humanity since. The second birth then is a spiritual birth, moving from the physical inheritance of sin & future judgement, to the spiritual inheritance of heaven, forgiveness of sins and being right with God. This is done by two things. Firstly, God put the payment down for sin by punishing His own Son Jesus in our place. Secondly, its dependent upon a person responding with faith in what He did. That, is in essence what I did 21 years ago; I believed for the first time that I needed to be saved, that I could be saved, and that Jesus alone could do it. There are many things that I regret in life, but trusting Jesus Christ, and being born again has never been one of them!


Are you able to celebrate being born again?

The Disciple Jesus Loved

Is it wrong to have a favourite disciple? 

Well, maybe not a favourite; but one of the gospels that you prefer reading? If not, then my preference would be John. It's not that I don't appreciate the others, or enjoy the styles they wrote in; but there seems to be a real closeness about the way John records the events in the life of Jesus. 

John throughout his gospel humbly refers to himself as "the disciple who Jesus loved". That's not to say that Jesus Himself had favourite disciples; or that John was loved more, but more that He was constantly reminding Himself that the Son of God loved Him! 

Whenever you fail, fall short or mess up; remember that you too are "the disciple whom Jesus loved"! 

The first reference John makes to himself in this way is when he is in the upper room with Jesus and the other disciples. "One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him." (John 13:23) He's the closest person to the Lord Jesus, and at one point even leans on the saviour's chest. There was a sense of peace which John felt being near the lord. Think of all the wonderful encouraging things John heard that night; that's where his confidence in Jesus came from. 

How close am I to the Lord? Do I try to have the desire to hear what He has to say to me?

"When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son!" Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home." (John 19:26-27 ESV)

John is the only disciple that we read is at the cross. He must have had a heavy heart. He must of had a million questions running through his mind. His Lord is hanging on a cross, hardly recognisable; and yet he hears his masters voice; "Behold your mother". That day, Mary was adopted by John and John by Mary. Even on the cross, the Lord's heart was set on the needs of others. 

God still expects his children to look after each other. God delights to use us to bring about His plans. There are many verses which command us to love, provide for and encourage God's people. Who has God placed into my life to look after? Family? Friends? Strangers? God expects us to look after those who are fellow Christians! Why do we do it? John did it simply because it was the Saviour who commanded it, the Saviour who loved him.

"So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him." (John 20:2 ESV)

What was John thinking? He had seen Jesus die. He had watched them take His limp body down from the cross. And now the "disciple, whom Jesus loved" heard from Mary Magdalene His grave was empty. He out-ran Peter to the grave, but initially something made him stop outside. Perhaps fear of the unknown. Fear of disappointment. Who knows? But what we do know is that "Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed;" The empty tomb was enough to remind John that the Saviour rose as He had promised! 

Love "Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." (1 Corinthians 13:7 ESV) 

Love is the oil that makes faith easier to live out!

While out on a fishing boat with 6 other disciples, John saw Jesus perform a great miracle. When he saw it, "That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" (John 21:7) Which disciple recognised the saviour's voice? Which one acknowledged the stranger on the shore as his Lord? There's no surprise it was John; that his gospel records the words of Jesus that "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." (John 10:27) is no surprise. Do I recognise the lords voice in my life? Do I allow enough silence for Him to speak? 

Personally I fill my life with noise and distractions. Last week I had a 12 hour "music and social network silence". I'm not going to claim I heard great words of wisdom, or had large visions; but I allowed the silence needed to hear the voice of God. My mind was able to think of people who would value a text, or an email. People who I could help. Why don't I do it more?

Finally, John records in the last chapter of his book Peters words with the Lord - "Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who had been reclining at table close to him and had said, "Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?"

When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about this man?"

Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!" (John 21:20-22) 

Peter had heard how he was to die, and had seen a small part of what would happen in his life. He was however more taken up with John. Was he the betrayer? What would he endure? Would he be given an easier life? 

We all do it. Wonder if someone else is gonna have an easier life. If it will be longer, happier, richer and more blessed than ours? But Jesus tells us simply  "What is that to you? You follow me!" Let's not look at other Christian's lives with jealousy or envy. Lets enjoy our own unique lives. 

No one else in this world is like you! 

God has a unique plan for your life, and only you can fulfill it completely by being the person God made you to be! I hope we can all see ourselves as "the disciple whom Jesus loved". He loved you enough to die for you, he wants you to love Him back.

Yours in Him

Dan 

Restoration

"God doesn't throw us out like an old antique, battered, damaged and broken; He lovingly restores us back to how He wants us to be."

Imagine being in Peter's shoes. He's feeling pretty bad about himself, fairly down. He's rejected the one person he had believed in whole heartedly. He had even promised that he'd follow Jesus all the way to death, but at the first sign of trouble he denied even knowing the Lord.


Peter must of had a lot of mixed emotions. The man who he had been discipled by for three years; who had allowed him to walk on water, raised the dead, been transformed in his presence, removed demons from the possessed and healed the sick had died. Was He a fraud? Why has He abandoned us? Wasn't He meant to be saving us from our enemies?


Peter was aware that he had failed. He had wept bitterly when he heard the cock crow. He had denied The Lord, and had felt the sorrowful stare of the Saviour. What now? Should he just return to fishing? Should he abandon the other disciples?


When the women who had faithfully followed Jesus came to the tomb early on the Sunday morning, they were expecting to find the large stone blocking their way to the body of the Lord. What they found however, was an open tomb, and an angel present. The angel said "Don't be alarmed! You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples and Peter "He is going ahead of you to Galilee. There you will see Him, just as He told you". (Mark 16:6-7 NIV Emphasis added)


"His disciples and Peter"! Jesus was aware how low, guilty, upset and a failure Peter must have been feeling; so He made sure that Peter knew he was personally being called. Peter couldn't say "Oh Jesus wants His disciples, and that doesn't include me". "I've failed Him once too often". 

I've been there. I've felt that "maybe that last sin was one too many?"; I've overstepped the line for one last time. The thought comes that "maybe I'm better off drifting back into the world; returning to my old ways. Ways that require less effort and fewer struggles".


That is not what God wants! He is all too aware of our failures; all of our faults and disappointing efforts are seen by Him. But, He doesn't abandon us! Praise God that He is long suffering and patient with each of us. His Grace is larger than our sins. He knows we can never be perfect. (SinLESS). He is calling us to repent and return. To confess and follow once more.


Peter is later restored to the group, and goes on to be a powerful man in the spread of the gospel. Am I going to just give up when I fail? Will I abandon everything that I've gained so far? "If we confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9 KJV). When a Christian sins, the door to Gods blessings aren't closed forever; but its important to confess our sin. Gods Grace will always out measure our sin, and His love means he's always ready to forgive. 

Yours in Him; hope you are all having a great weekend.


Dan

Things to remember

Yesterday I received an unexpected phone call. 

I had made a big mistake. 

My new saxophone teacher (Who I’d only met once) called to say he was sat in his lounge expecting me, and I was late. I had completely forgotten I’d booked the lesson, and as a result had made alternate plans. It can be very easy, when life gets busy, to forget plans and arrangements we've made. No matter how hard I try to be organised, and how often I write it down, make lists and set reminders I usually end up failing to remember what I need to do. Here’s a look at the idea of Remembering in the bible. 



“I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.” Gen 9:15

The first thing to point out is that God never forgets. Being forgetful is a weakness and a fault, but God is absolutely perfect, and without any flaws. He never forgets. So when God promises to remember His covenant, we know it will always be kept. God will never judge this world by a flood again. He will one day judge all sin, but it won’t be by flooding the earth. In the Old Testament it's recorded that "God remembered...." certain people. Sometimes, they were in the middle of very difficult circumstances. God remembered Noah in the ark, Rachel when she was barren, Abraham (and Isaac and Jacob) when he was wondering without a permanent home, Joseph when he was in prison and so on. We are always in the sight of God, and no matter what the trial or difficulty, God will not forget us.



“Then Moses said to the people, “Remember this day in which you came out from Egypt, out of the house of slavery, for by a strong hand the Lord brought you out from this place.” Ex 13:3

This is a challenging verse. Moses told the Children of Israel to remember the day when they left Egypt, when they were delivered out of the bondage that they’d been under. What about me? Or you? Can you look back to a day in your life when you left the world behind, and came out of the slavery of sin? A day when God saved us out of our life of ruin, rebellion and rejection of Jesus Christ? I'm very thankful that I can. It’s a good thing to be able to think back to that day (even though I don’t know the time or date), and remember I trusted the Lord Jesus as my saviour, and from that very minute I was free! It’s also important to remember that God alone did the saving. The moving from darkness to light. Remember.....“Salvation is of the Lord”.



“You shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.” Deut 8:2

Another good thing to remember is that just like the Children of Israel in the wilderness, we have God (in particular His Holy Spirit) to guide us through life. This, according to the bible should be a humbling thing. If God is leading, we shouldn't be seeking our own way, but faithfully following. The period of trials and testing along the way is to see how much we trust God, and how much of our lives we're prepared to submit to Him. Have you ever driven through thick fog? The car headlights against the fog mean that you usually can only see just a few feet ahead of you. God doesn't show us the whole of our life, but little by little reveals the turn in the road of life. We've got to faithfully follow His leading to travel the safest way, and use His word to lighten our pathway. (Psalm 119:



“Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”;” Ecc 12:1

Each week (during term time), our church has a wonderful privilege of preaching the gospel to children from the local area. I find this one of the most rewarding and beneficial works we can be involved in. Children aren't as skeptical as adults, they find it easier to have faith, and are more willing to listen to the truth of God and His creation. It’s important then that children know about God, and if He chooses, that they come to trust in Him and His Son. Sadly many children, who don’t trust in the Lord in their youth grow up ignoring all of the things they've heard. Choosing to forget God, rather than to remember their Creator. Its also good for us to remember Him when we are young, and to establish good practices for living for Him before careers, relationships and interests get too firm a grip.



“For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” Jer 31:34

When a person becomes a Christian, God forgives them of all of their sin. He removes the condemnation and wrath that was upon them. He could still remember all of their sin though, all of their times of failure and disobedience. However, God doesn't forget our sin (a negative), he chooses to remember our sins no more (positive)! So often when people wrong us, we forgive but choose not to forget. I for one am pleased that God has decided to forgive, and to not remember.



“And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.” Matt 26:75

There are times when I've sinned, and afterwards a verse comes to mind and reminds me that I've just broken God’s law. While we can’t change it, and it will occur many times in our lives, we like Peter should instantly repent of it. To acknowledge sin when we remember it is a starting point to dealing with it.



“For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.” 1 Cor 11: 23-26

Finally, one of the greatest things we can do for our Saviour is to remember Him as He has asked. He told us that by breaking the bread, and drinking the wine from the cup, we show to the world what the Lord Jesus has done. He gave Himself to die for sin, His own precious blood was shed, and His body wasn’t only punished physically, but was made sin in order to be punished for sin. 

There are lots of memorials, gravestones and statues to remember those who have died, but none for the Lord Jesus. That's because He rose again the 3rd day, and is now in Heaven. It’s a Christian’s great privilege to meet with the Lord present each week (or however often it is your church chooses to meet), and then to constantly be reminded of the vast cost that He paid to save us out of the bondage of sin. That truly is something worth REMEMBERING!



Once again, this subject has only been glanced at, and I'm sure you can add to it. Such verses like “Remember Lot’s wife” (as she looked back to Sodom), and of how God will “remember their iniquities” (people who reject the Lord Jesus) etc. There are over 200 mentions of remembering, remember and remembrance in the bible, and you wouldn't want to read a blog that mentioned them all. Ha ha. I hope this post helps you to remember some of the blessings we have, the things to give thanks for, and the God who has done it all!



Yours in Him

Dan

P.S. the photo below is a memorial to the thousands of people who lost their lives at the destruction of the twin towers in New York on 11th September 2001. 

JOY

In all honesty, this week hasn't been the best. 

It started off with a few days ill, and then a few days of little sleep. But I guess more importantly than all that, it was one of those weeks when I didn't have too much desire to read my bible. A couple of days I didn't read it. Some I did the bare minimum that the daily reading book required, and some days I read it for my own enjoyment. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has weeks like this. Sometimes, life saps the pleasure away from a Christian. Circumstances, problems, people, work and doubts all can have a negative effect upon our Christian walk.


I’ve asked myself the question “How can I make my Christian life more consistent?” Firstly, I need to make sure I understand the feelings that being a Christian should bring. Most of us expect to feel ‘Happiness’ as a Christian, and that if we don’t have that feeling all of the time, there must be something wrong with us. Happiness however is defined in the dictionary as “the emotion experienced when in a state of well-being”. Happiness then, is an emotion we feel when things are going our way. When life is going well. When our hopes are fulfilled, and our dreams are met. Happiness it would seem depends on how our life is going. In Lamentations 3:17 the writer says “my soul is bereft of peace; I have forgotten what happiness is”. Because of the experiences of the writer (thought to be Jeremiah the prophet), he had no happiness in his life.


The bible mentions “Happiness” twice in the ESV, but the word “Joy (or joyful etc) is mentioned 192 times. What then is the difference between Joy and Happiness? The dictionary describes Joy as “Something or someone that provides a source of happiness”. A “Source” of happiness?! Not the feelings that we feel, but the person or object that create those feelings. For a Christian, we have Jesus Christ (person) and the fact we have the benefits of eternal salvation (object) to give us joy. Joy is an attitude that we choose to have, unaffected by circumstances or surroundings, and is always present for the Christian to be in its benefit.


“I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.” Luke 15:7. What brings Joy to God’s heart? When a person turns from sin, and trusts in the Lord Jesus.....That delights God. The verse of course doesn't say that the 99 righteous people don’t delight God, of course they do. God loves those that are His. But He rejoices when a sinner repents and returns to Him, when the prodigal son comes home, and the lost sheep is found.


“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full". John 15:11. What had Jesus told His disciples to inform them of a Joy that was theirs? He told them that He was the vine, and they could “Abide in Him”, and that “He who abides in me, and I in Him, will bear much fruit”. This is the secret for a joyful, fruitful Christian life....Abiding in Him. My daily walk would have more joy to it if I constantly abided in Christ. Sadly, so often it isn’t.


Secondly, Jesus had told them “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love” Is there a better feeling than the one of being loved? A perfect, without motive, always accepting, self sacrificing love, which is undeservedly given to us? If we can start to abide in the goodness of that, we will really have an experience of Joy! I have been guilty of trying to find happiness and love from others, and it can be found, but human love isn’t the same as the Love of God, and it can’t give us eternal, lasting, unconditional feelings of joy.


“Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.” John 16:22. Jesus promised His disciples that while there would be sorrow because of His death, His resurrection would bring a joy that no one could rob them of. Why was Peter so bold at Pentecost? Why did the disciples lay down their life for the Lord? Because His resurrection confirmed all of their beliefs, that He was the Son of God! We can have true lasting joy in our daily lives because our saviour has risen. He has paid the price for sin. He has gone into glory as our forerunner. And he promised “if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again; that where I am, there you may be also”. My saviour is coming again for me, which should be a source of constant joy. Maybe I’ll see Him tonight?


“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Rom 15:13. The Holy Spirit loves to increase our joy. He loves to remind us all that Jesus has done for us. This shows us that joy can be increased or decreased; depending upon how much time and effort we spend on the Lord. We can have the Joy of God, or fill ourselves with the temporary happiness of the world.


“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honour, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:6-9. As a Christian, trials will come. Problems will arise. But then if we can try to see that they are all used by God for our benefit, and to mould us to be more like Christ, then even the most difficult of problems can be a source of Joy.


I’m afraid I have hardly touched the surface of what joy is in scripture, and how we can apply it in our lives, but I hope it encourages you to read a bit more into it. May our walk together be one of deep Joy, as we go on the way with our saviour. Please feel free to share this post with others, and as always your extra thoughts and comments are greatly valued. You can follow this blog at Facbook/ODCAO

Yours in Him.

Dan

Snow

Those who know me will tell you that I love snow. Whether watching it fall, walking in it, or talking about it,, its my favourite weather.....but sadly no longer building with it (Apparently I’m to be mature these days). Seeing the snow that has fallen over the last few days, and hearing all about the vast amounts we expect (and I’m hoping for) tomorrow, has made me think about well known mentions of snow. 

Snow in the bible usually speaks of purity. God more often than not uses ordinary, everyday objects to describe heavenly truths. For example, the bread and wine were used to speak of His body and blood, or the vine and branches to speak of a Christian's relationship to Jesus. Why has He chosen to do this? Well, how could my poor, simple, finite mind possibly understand the perfect things of God and heaven? Obviously it can’t. So God allows me to grasp something about Himself through the things I know and can comprehend. In Dan 7:9, God reveals Himself in the following way: “I watched till thrones were put in place, And the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, And the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, Its wheels a burning fire;” 
Using our own knowledge of how white snow is (Probably the whitest thing we can imagine), we can grasp just how perfectly white and pure God’s robes were. We then understand that the God we want to know, and our saviour we have trusted in, are clothed with absolute perfection. If God was anything other than perfect, He wouldn't be God! The idea of perfection described by snow is also seen in Matt 28:3 (Speaks of an angel), Mark 9:3 (Jesus on the mount of transfiguration) and Rev 1:14 (the vision of the Son of Man). 
When I wake up in the morning and see a covering of snow, it makes the whole place look perfect. There could be mud, rubbish, waste or any other unpleasant sight there normally, but when snow has fallen and covered it, it makes it all look pure. God knows our faults. He is well aware of our sinful, shame filled lives. And yet He sends out the initiation “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord,
“Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18) What a promise God makes to such undeserving people! Despite the fact God sees our sins, He is willing to remove them and make us perfect in His sight. He will never force us to be made clean, never force His salvation upon us. But by His grace, and because of His love, He offers. Have you confidence that when God sees you, he sees you as “White as snow”? I have. But I only have it because of my once, for all time decision to trust the Lord Jesus Christ, and to repent (have a change of heart and direction) of the sinful life I was living. I am not perfect, but praise God that when He looks at me, He no longer sees my sin, but sees me in Christ Jesus!

Those of us who have become Christians know that just because we are forgiven by God, we don’t have the ability to live without faults and failings. We all continue to sin. Even from the moment we are saved, we get distracted, tempted, dragged away and turned from living as God would want. King David, who was once described as “A man after God’s own heart”, sinned. He committed adultery when he slept with another man’s wife, and then to cover his sin, he organised a situation for her husband to be slain in battle. (The whole story is found in 2 Sam 11) King David eventually had his sinful acts revealed to him. Not that he didn't know what he’d done, but God eventually showed David that HE knew, that He’d seen it all take place. David, in a very personal prayer to God (Psalm 51) prays “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” 

David knew that any sin in his life would affect his relationship with God. He knew that only God could forgive him and correct the situation. God, knowing our continued failure has said through John “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) 

Have I sinned today? Has it made my relationship with God awkward, knowing that I've done it in His sight? God graciously promises (and He cant lie remember!), that if I choose to confess my sin to Him, he’ll renew our relationship, and bring me back into His blessings. An old preacher used to encourage us to “Keep short accounts with God”. To not let sin settle in our lives, and affect our walk with the Lord Jesus. So when the snow falls this week, remember that God can, and maybe has already made your sins as white as snow in His sight. To be seen as perfect and pure, because His own son died to pay the price for our sin, is a wonderful thing. One which we should treasure.

Yours in Him

Dan

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CONTENT

Today’s blog is one which will look at the two aspects of the word “CONTENT”. By this I don’t mean items, like you’d find on a content list. But rather its use to describe our attitude toward something.

Let’s consider it in a negative sense first. I always prefer the bad news ahead of the good news in the hope that the good overcomes the bad. Weird I know ha ha.

In the book of Haggai, the prophet is speaking to the first group of people that returned to Jerusalem. They had begun to rebuild the temple of God, but had given up because of opposition (Samaritans). Haggai ch 1:3-6 says “Then the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying, “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?” Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways!

“You have sown much, and bring in little;
You eat, but do not have enough;
You drink, but you are not filled with drink;
You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm;
And he who earns wages,
Earns wages to put into a bag with holes.”

God had noticed that because the spiritual work of rebuilding the temple had ceased, the people had begun to focus upon their own homes. This in itself wasn’t a bad thing, but it had become their main focus in life. They had become “Content” with their situation. They had become comfortable in their nice houses, and had lost the interest for the temple of God. What about me? Have I lost interest in the building up of the church I attend? Do i pray for, and live to further the kingdom of God? Or is my time and effort spent on building up the comfortable things in my life? Careers, relationships, sporting teams, university studies, homes? They of themselves aren't bad things, but they can become distractions very easily without us knowing.

Then comes the part I find most challenging, v6. I believe that God is criticising them for not making full use of their blessings. He is telling them that while they are sowing, eating, drinking, clothed and earning money, they could have so much more! They were content with the least of what they could of had. Just like when they first entered the promised land, the Children of Israel didn't take up God's promise that "Everywhere the sole of your foot shall tread shall be yours". But they didn't make the most of it! They’re getting the bare minimum out of life. In Ephesians Paul tells us “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Eph 1:3). Am i making the most of the many blessings God has given me? Do I walk in the Spirit, in the power of God, by unwavering faith, knowing my life is covered by the grace of God? Personally......No. Not all of the time. If I did I’d not worry, panic, doubt or fear. I’d make the most of every opportunity, make every day count. That’s what I’m trying to do this year, make each day count and be a blessing or help to someone. 

The second aspect of contentment is in a positive way. It’s Paul who writes all of the verses I’d like to consider now (If it is true as suspected that Paul was the writer of Hebrews). Paul was a man who lived a content life. In 2 Cor 12:10 (ESV) Paul writes “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” In the verse prior to this, Paul tells us that God had promised “My grace is sufficient for you”. When Paul was experiencing problems, trials and difficulties, that’s when he felt God most in his life. When life is smooth and we’re comfortable and content (In that negative way), we often forget and ignore God’s will and help. But in those difficult times, that’s when our appreciation of God, and faith in God grow most.

Then, in Philippians 4:11, Paul speaks of financial contentment. “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.” The world tells us to strive for wealth, to be financially comfortable. But in both poverty and wealth we have opportunities to glorify God, or to use it for sin. Agur, in proverbs 30: 7-9 says “Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die:
Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; 
feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.”

Wealth can lead us to ignore God, poverty can lead us to sin against God. Godly contentment is an attitude that says “Whether God gives me much or little, I will use it all for Him.” This is much easier to say than to do at times.

Then, Paul tells Timothy that “If we have food and clothing, with these we will be content” (1 Tim 6:8). This goes against modern day society that wants the best of everything. We need to be content with what we have, God doesn't promise to meet our worldly desires and ambitions, but to satisfy every NEED.

And finally, in Hebrews 13:5, we read “Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for He has said “I will never leave you nor forsake you”. The only way we can have true biblical contentment is to realise that God loves us, blesses us, and meets our need. “But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.” Worldly gain and wealth will never make up for storing up spiritual treasure in Heaven. I hope that we can no longer be content (In the negative sense) with what we have achieved and gained, but also learn to be content (Positively) with what God has blessed us with.

Yours in Him

Dan
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