The first sign of snowdrops in February is the first promise of spring. They seem so hardy to survive the severe weather we still have, especially up here in Cumbria. Mine have started to appear but they are so tiny. Each white flower is only millimetres from the earth. Does that mean they are more protected.? I pray that we, in our Christian lives may stay close to our Maker, so that we too, are more protected.
Author: Carol Purves
Blind Bartimaeus
The rising dust was choking his throat as dozens of feet dashed past him. As he cried out the crowd told him to be quiet, they had come a long way to hear this itinerant preacher and they didn’t want a blind man upsetting their plans. Usually they had time for him but today he was just a nuisance.
How often does a blind Bartimaeus get in our way? We’re just leaving for church and a friend rings up desperately needing our help, as her husband has left her. After the sermon we want to congratulate the preacher when another friend is bursting to tell us her news, she is pregnant at long last.
A blind Bartimaeus always comes to us at the wrong time, but the right time from God’s point of view.
Philippians 4
In his letter to the Philippians chapter 4, Paul is falling over himself as he writes. He is so overwhelmed by adoration of God that it all comes tumbling out. Rejoice, he tells us, but then he tells us again, rejoice. The Lord is near, don’t be anxious. So often Jesus gave the same message to his disciples, Don’t be afraid. My peace I give to you. Paul tells us to keep praying, there is no better way to be closer to God and be able to do His will. Time spent with God is so precious in this hurrying world. The God Paul tells us about is the God of peace; we can have the peace of God.
No wonder Paul writes with a such a quick quill pen!
Practice what You Preach
When I came across these words in Matthew in 23 twice in one day, I felt God was trying to speak to me. But then I fell to thinking about the many phrases from the Bible which we use in every day speech.’Don’t cast your pearls before swine,’ ‘Let the dead bury the dead,’ The first shall be last,’ Physician heal yourself,’ ‘Vengeance is mine’ (misquoted.)
I had a non-Christian relative who was amazed (and horrified) when I told him that when he ‘crossed his fingers’ he was referring to the cross and ‘touching wood’ was again thinking of the cross.
Of course, the Bible also has serious words to say to us as Christians!
Return
Sorry I’ve been missing for a while but two months of poor health and then trouble with my website has left me speechless. Next week I will be back and sharing my thoughts with you.
Late Recognition
I’ve always felt sorry for the two disciples on their way to Emmaus. We read in Luke that ‘they were kept from recognizing Him.’ They didn’t know who Jesus was until He was about to disappear. If they had known hours earlier they could have had a great time of fellowship with Him. But maybe God knew that recognition would mean they wouldn’t be listening to what Jesus had to say . We don’t always understand the wisdom of God.
In the Light
I’ve often read the wise words ‘Don’t forget in the dark what you’ve learned in the light, ‘ which were Ideas that have stood me in good stead over the years. But I’ve needed to turn this saying on it’s head. Having had a period of ill-health recently, God has had much to teach me during this time. As I’m now ‘in the light’ it would be easy to forget the lessons learned in that dark patch.
Being a writer I always find it easier to write things down. I don’t want to forget but to remember and apply these hard-won truths learned in the dark.
Bartimaeus
In the story of blind Bartimaeus I had always thought it strange when Jesus asked ‘What do you want me to do for you?’But today I looked at the first words of Bartimaeus’. Son of David, have mercy on me.’ Yes, he wanted his sight back but more than anything else he wanted mercy from Jesus.
There are many things we feel we want from God but mercy is what is needed by us all.
He Knows our Need
God knows our situation. Everything is under His control. As the gold in every mine belongs to Him it is no wonder that He can give us exactly what we need, not what we want. These two things are very different. We might desire to have masses of money, but God knows this might be disastrous for us. We might want perfect health, but then we could never emphasize with others. Our desires may be for a larger family and more friends. These might make us abandon spending time with Him.
i’m pleased God holds the key to the future. It is safe hands.
God’s Timing
Our God who is outside of time, is perfect in His timing. The minutes, hours, planets and universes all work like clockwork. If one thing was too early or too late, or one planet out of orbit, chaos would descend. God’s timing is still perfect today. As I’ve recently needed help in various ways, I’ve found that help has arrived at exactly the right time, by exactly the right people. I have not been too insignificant to be under His care.
The inventor of time is also the controller of it. God never gets it wrong.