Author: Carol Purves

Water

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The recent drought has reminded us how completely essential water is to us. Too much is as dangerous as too little. Floods and drowning or drought and starvation. The Bible is full of stories of water. When God created the earth, He divided the dry land from the sea. We need the sea even today to travel from country to country, to give us our fish supplies and for leisure and enjoyment.

The story of Noah is a story of too much water. Death and disaster followed. Elijah’s story was the opposite problem. No rain for years! Psalm 23 reminds us of water for our benefit as we read ‘ He leads me beside the still waters.’ Lord, we pray that we might be thoughtful and thankful for our water, using it wisely and sharing it.

I’m Sorry

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It seems that it is increasingly difficult for people in high places to say that they’re sorry. They manage to blame everyone except themselves, they seldom think they are in the wrong. An admission of sorrow seems to be an admission of guilt. It seems they can never appear to be guilty.

How different it is for Christians. The Bible says, ‘All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.’ Romans 3:23. We know that in the sight of God we are sinners, our sins and shortcomings are only too evident to us. The good news is that we don’t need to be bowed down with the guilt. The blood of Jesus gives us forgiveness and redemption.

God-ordained Marriage

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Back in my day we tended to meet our life partners at our workplace, through church or contact through relatives. Before my day people met mainly through church, often because more people went to church. Today I understand that people meet through dating apps on line, even through Christian dating apps.

Right back to Biblical times there was also a problem God used a meeting at a well to bring Isaac and Rebekah together. Abraham needed to find a wife for his son. Although he and his family were living in Canaan he didn’t want to choose a Canaanite woman, nor did he want Isaac to go back to the land where they used to live. A servant was used as a go-between.

The servant appealed to God for help, may the woman that he met at the well give him a drink and also offer water to his camels. God had gone before, Rebekah made the offer to the camels, the servant met her father and the deal was done. I do feel a little sorry for Rebekah who had to make such a hasty farewell.

Measuring Up

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I’ve just had the chance to go to my new bungalow to measure up. I needed to know the dimensions of each room as well as where the radiators and power points are. I had to find out which parts of the garden were sunny and where the shady places were. As I stood in each room I tried to imagine where I would put each piece of furniture but then I realised I would have to measure piece of furniture in my existing house. It was turning out to be a large job!

I must admit my measurements were only approximate, they didn’t have to be exact. This was not the case with Solomon as he built the temple. Every measurement had to be extremely accurate. He didn’t just use his own discretion; he had received detailed instructions from God. He needed to know what materials to use and what they were to be covered in. Many of God’s instructions are recorded for us in the Bible.

Kindness

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So often we remember and comment on the times that people have been inconsiderate or unkind to us. We seem to be good at holding grudges. But in actual fact we receive more kindness than we ever care to remember. If we stop to recall the acts of consideration shown towards us, they are probably more than we can count.

Think of the door that was held open for us even when we were slow; or the driver who didn’t cut us up at a roundabout or one who didn’t beat us into a parking space which they might have claimed for their own. Consider the person who sends us an encouraging letter or thanks us in a text.

As a Christian we have a chance to pass these kindnesses on in the name of Christ. It’s just a matter of thinking of others first and not ourselves. I’m sure it wasn’t always easy for Mary and Martha to welcome Jesus, especially if all His friends came along as well. They showed kindness out of love.

I Know the Owner

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This is the time of year for visiting stately homes. I’m the kind of person who is always intrigued by the rooms which are not open to the general public. I want to know what is behind those locked doors and to learn more about the owners. Of course, I can’t; they’re private.

When I once visited one of the mercy ships I was allowed to go into the private places because I was friendly with a member of the crew. I felt quite smug as I was able to see what others in my party were not able to see. And yes, it was fascinating.

I believe that when I get to heaven there won’t be any private areas or forbidden spaces. I will be welcome everywhere because I know the owner.

90

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Even in these modern times, it is an achievement to reach ninety years of age.The only person who I know who has managed this is my friend, June. Her name is no surprise as that is the month in which she was born. June is absolutely loved by everyone; some people are like that. When June’s husband, Roger, was alive, who shared a birthday with her, I used to visit them at this time of year with a small birthday cake. Roger is no longer with us but a large crowd from church came to celebrate her reaching her ninetieth birthday.

As well as being notable missionaries in India, they were the parents of five children, now all serving the Lord in various parts of the country, Their’s is and was lives worth living.

Legally Correct

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As I’m moving house in a few weeks time, I’ve just been to see my solicitor to sign several papers. I was struck with the professional way the young lady dealt with everything. Each step was carefully explained to me and I only signed when I fully understood and nothing was left to misinterpretation. It seemed legally correct to me with no loopholes.

It is just the same with our God who made a contract with us that Jesus would be sent as a Saviour to free us from our sins. His death was to do what we couldn’t do for ourselves. But it didn’t come to pass in a haphazard way. Biblical scholars will tell us that the whole of the Old Testament points to the coming of Christ. As we read page after page we will find that various prophets have foretold of the event. Nothing was left to chance; each prophecy was fulfilled. It was the most meticiously planned event in the whole of history.

I can be Heard

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As you might have read in my previous blogs I recently watched my local football team play at Wembley on a very large scene with dozens of other supporters. The noise level was off the scale. I wonder how blind Bartimaeus was heard over the clamour of the crowd. ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.’ ‘Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me.’

However hopeless the situation seemed, Bartimaeus was not going to give up but Jesus was able to hear a whisper or even feel a touch to the hem of His garment. ‘Call him,’ said Jesus. My Bible says the blind man leapt up and came to Jesus but I’m sure his friends guided him. ‘What do you want me to do for you?, Jesus asked. Obviously Jesus knew what the man wanted but He wanted to hear him say it.

Jesus says to us ‘What do you want?’ He will hear us even when we answer through torrents of tears or through clenched teeth. He will never miss our call for help. May we all ask ‘Lord, open my eyes, I want more spiritual awareness.’

Win or Lose

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Following the thought of football matches, although my team is in a winning streak at the moment, I know that won’t last and at some time we will be losing matches before we get back to winning them again. That is the manner of sport – some you win and some you lose

Our trust in God is not like that; we are always on the winning side. Things will not always go our way, but they will always go God’s way. God has our best interests at heart and He will ordain everything for our good. This will include dark days and weary ways as well as triumphant times and days of blessing. We need in the darkness to remember what we learned in the light and in the light to remember what we learned in the darkness. This will keep us on God’s even keel.