Author: Carol Purves

Praise and Thanksgiving

Carol Purves Carol's Blog

So often we are like the nine lepers who omitted to thank Jesus for their healing. We pray and ask God for various things and then forget to say thankyou. It might be excused as human nature but it is wrong.

To help my memory I have a ‘thank you book.’ In it I record each day thanks for many answered prayers. There are the daily things to give thanks for, like the sun, rain, a good night’s sleep. And then there are the miracles – healing for myself or a friend. safety in an accident. another soul saved for the Lord. The more I think about it, the more things there are to thank God for. As it is entered in a diary form I can go back and thank God all over again. The psalms are full of thanks and praise. May we be the same.

Two Small Coins

Carol Purves Carol's Blog , , ,

The great and famous were congregating in heaven, those who had been remembered down the ages.

‘I’m Moses who encountered God in the burning bush and led the people of out of Egypt towards the Promised Land.’

I’m Elijah. I was fed by God in the wilderness. God guided me to overcome Ahab and give guidance to the people of Israel.’

‘I was known as John the Baptist. I prepared the way for the coming of Jesus and was able to baptise him in the rived Jordan.’

‘I’m Paul. God met me on the road to Damascus. I suffered much for my Saviour, wrote many letters to fellow believers and eventually died a martyr’s death.’

‘I only gave all my savings to God in the shape of two small coins.’

To each and every one God said, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’

Love

Carol Purves Carol's Blog

Four year old Abie had learned about Mother’s Day from her older sister. She loved her mother and wanted to show it. Mother’s Day morning found her mounting the stairs and gripping a breakfast tray in her tiny hands. On it was a sheet of kitchen roll, a single slice of dry bread taken from the packet and a cup of cold water.

A plain unapitising meal but prepared with love. Prepared with love by Abie for her mother.

Solomon

Carol Purves Carol's Blog , ,

Our sermon the other week was about Solomon. When one studies his life you realise how rich and powerful he was. He was also noted for his great wisdom. But by looking closely at the passages in the Bible we see that he is only pointing to a greater one. Solomon’s fame was only human, the power of Jesus is divine.

David was a powerful king and we are blessed today by his wonderful psalms, but again he is only a pointer to one who is greater. Jesus is the greatest. Prophets, saints and revered Biblical figures come no-where near Him. ‘It’s Jesus, the first and the last.’

The Bible

Carol Purves Carol's Blog

Is it going out of practise? Are we reading the Bible less because it is so readily available to us in the Western World? Do we hunger and thirst for it? In some cases I fear the answer is ‘yes’, ‘yes’ and ‘no.’

There are many reasons we need to read and study it more. It has been handed down through the centuries, many have given their lives to share it with the unconverted and many have given their lives translating it into people’s mother tongues.

But the top reason is that God has given it to us. It is God-breathed. We need it like a drowning man. Without it’s teaching, guiding, comfort and instruction we will spiritually drown.

Answers to Prayer

Carol Purves Carol's Blog

God answers prayer. We find it repeatedly in the Bible. His prophets cried out to Him and in His perfect time and in His own way He answered. What makes us think it will be any different today. God doesn’t change.

Cast your mind back over the years. Has God ever let you down? He might have said ‘no’, He might have said ‘wait,’ or He might have said ‘yes.’ As we reflect we will see that His answers have been the best for us. We can sometimes see the reasons for the answers and some questions we won’t know why until the other side of heaven.

Our job is to remember that He does all things well and He only wants the best for us.

Christian Fellowship

Carol Purves Carol's Blog

Christian fellowship is something to be treasured. There are brave Christians round the world who have to operate on their own. They miss out on fellowship, sharing knowledge and encouragement. Where we can meet with other Christians we need to, it is necessary for our growth. I find there is a tendency since covid to be content with zoom services and using social media to share truths. But we are missing out. We need to make the effort; we need to sit in the same hall or room and look at each other in our conversations.

Out of respect for those who can’t physically meet because of illness or distance, we need to meet up more and share sweet fellowship..

The Burning Bush

Carol Purves Carol's Blog

To see a burning bush must have rung alarm bells for Moses. He was in a very dry land, would a bush on fire start a ‘bush’ fire? They must have had them in the Holy Land. Then he marvelled as the fire was self-contained. No earthly danger, just a divine danger. He heard God speaking to him, ‘you are on holy ground’ Then he uttered the words which many of the patriots uttered, ‘Here I am.’ When he heard the commission, his words changed to ‘Who am I?’

How often do we say to the Lord ‘Here I am.’ Then we hear His next words. ‘I want you to be a missionary in Outer Mongolia.’ ‘No Lord,’ we cry,’ anywhere in the world except Outer Mongolia.’ ‘Take a meal to your bereaved neighbour.’ ‘No, Lord, you know she hates me, I can’t go there.’ Or the much used excuse ‘I’m not good enough, clever enough or eloquent enough.’

God got his way with Moses. Moses ended up leading the people of Israel out of Egypt and towards the promised land. I wonder if God gets His way with us.

No Change

Carol Purves Carol's Blog

I read yesterday ‘Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord’ Ps 31:24. I know the Bible is full of words of encouragement and I believe all and every one of them. But there are still times of discouragement when things go wrong or when there is illness. Is a Christian expected to be joyous and full of happiness all the time? This might be true of some Christians but that doesn’t describe me. In spite of God’s many promises, which I fully believe, at times I still worry, question and feel ‘unChristianlike.’

That is when we and I really need to lean on the Lord and ask His Holy Spirit to help us. We can’t do it in our own strength. I have to remember that God never changes whatever mood I might be in. He has never once failed me. God never changes. For many years He has protected and guided; He will not fail me in the last few years of my life.

Who Am I?

Carol Purves Carol's Blog

I’m the person who has failed in many areas of my life, in relationships, in career, exams, financially and so on. It seems to be a human characteristic of mankind to concentrate on what we haven’t achieved. The latest generation tries to overcome this trait by exalting themselves and believing they are marvellous and can do anything. Neither attitude is healthy or accurate.

But I remember God’s love, not my failure, defines me. I’m the son or daughter of a King. I was and am so loved that Jesus died for me. I have a place ready for me in heaven. That doesn’t sound like failure to me; it shouts of success.

Yes, here on earth, things often so wrong and we get it wrong and life is not as we would wish. But God has it sorted. So as I say, God’s love, not my failure, defines who I am. God’s love, not your failure, defines who you are.