Carol Purves – Page 74

Two Brothers

Carol Purves Carol's Blog November 30, 2022November 22, 2022inheritance, parables, Pharasees

In the best of families siblings don’t always get along together. Jesus told a story of two brothers like that. The brother who had been left to run the farm on a restricted budget had a point. With the younger swanning off, taking his part of the inheritance with him, the farm would have been in a straightened position. Added to this his father was not an active member of the team as he spent all his time looking for the return of his younger son.

But God’s kingdom is an up-side-down one. It is the younger son who is eventually restored to favour, while his brother sulked about the whole situation. We can’t judge any of the characters in this story. Where would we have been in the whole situation? When we realise that Jesus is likening the younger son to our sinful selves, other son to the stiff-necked Pharasees and the father to God, it puts a different slant on the tale. As my friend says, ‘This is one of the big parables.’

Double Vision

Carol Purves Carol's Blog November 29, 2022November 20, 2022

I was having trouble with my eyesight. I was seeing double and with the printed word one line was jumping about the other. In a worried frame of mind I went to the optician. After my eyes had been thoroughly tested it was found that there was nothing wrong with them, the problem was with my glasses which had become slightly bent, the two lens were out of sync.Once they were adjusted I had no trouble in seeing clearly.

Do we look at the word in a crooked way? Do we try to have one eye on the world and the other on God? Is our outlook towards the needy and helpless and God’s concern for them or do we concentrate only on ourselves? May we have clear vision looking only to God.

Light in Darkness

Carol Purves Carol's Blog November 28, 2022November 27, 2022

As we read in Genesis God came to be light to the world. When sin entered the world, darkness came. This darkness persisted unto Jesus came. Jesus was the light of the world. Because we are His followers, we can shine forth this light.

It is not darkness that is evil, but it is frightening because in it we can’t see our way ahead. Christmas tells us that Jesus can dwell in the places of darkness to make it light. God is there, everywhere to make the dark places light.

The season of Advent is the time to look forward to the coming of our Saviour; it is a time of hope. We know that God will shine in the difficult places in our lives.

Equal in the sight of God.

Carol Purves Carol's Blog November 25, 2022November 7, 2022

My young nephew had built a tower of Lego blocks. He’d chosen all green bricks to build his model. Then I noticed that one block at the bottom on the far side was a completely different shade of green. I was going to point this out to him, then wondered if it really mattered. The odd block was doing the job it was supposed to do, to complete the tower and be a support for the other pieces. Colour didn’t matter.

What about God and us? We are not all the same, we’re old, young, clever or not, talented in sports or more of a studious type. God never classes us as different. We are all equally loved by Him.

The Temptations of Jesus

Carol Purves Carol's Blog November 24, 2022November 16, 2022100% divine, temptation of Jesus, the devil

An eminent Christian once said, ‘When the devil comes knocking on my door, Jesus answers it and says, ‘ He used to live here but I live here now.’ I pray that is what happens when the devil comes knocking on the door of my heart.

It is of comfort to me that Jesus was tempted as the same way as I am Because he was one hundred per cent human, as well as one hundred per cent divine, He had the capacity to sin. When Jesus was tempted it wasn’t the three temptations which are recorded, but tempting for forty solid days.

The devil’s question was ‘If you are the Son of God.’ The devil would have seen the baptism of Jesus in the river Jordan so there could have been no doubt that Jesus was indeed the Son of God. The devil would have seen the dove descending and the words ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Because Jesus didn’t succumb to the temptations, we can live for ever with Him.

More Homeless

Carol Purves Carol's Blog November 23, 2022November 12, 2022begging, homeless, refugees

As I spied another homeless man, I noticed that a woman passed him by and then said too me as she also passed me ‘He’s not genuine, you know.’ I was so shocked and saddened, I would rather give to a fraud than pass by on the other side and miss those who are genuine. Surely no-one would choose to sit on the cold pavement, wearing flimsy clothing and receiving so few coins that they couldn’t get a hostel for the night.

As I spoke to him, he looked lost and uncaring. ‘Where did you sleep last night?’ ‘On the streets.’ Have you approached the council for somewhere to live.’ Just a shrug. ‘There is a church down the road which gives free meals each evening.’ Another shrug.

This man had reached the stage of no hope. He’d given up trying. The coins I gave wouldn’t help him if he didn’t try to find shelter. I really feared he would just become another statistic.

Homeless

Carol Purves Carol's Blog November 22, 2022November 12, 2022free meals, homeless, refugees

As I walked through my city yesterday I was saddened to see four homeless men sitting hunched up on the pavements with little protection from the elements. This was two more than the last time I was there. One of them had shelter above him but he was in the windiest place there was on a day which was frighteningly windy. As I bent to speak to him I realized that I was towering over him, a position which would make him feel even more inferior. Something else to strip away his dignity.

When I handed him a drink and some food he muttered something which made me think he wasn’t English, but probably a refugee. I was able to point out a nearby church which handed out free evening meals, but I doubt that he could understand me. Refugees and the homeless are not part of God’s plan.

Moses and Jesus

Carol Purves Carol's Blog November 21, 2022November 12, 2022

Both Moses and Jesus were faced with danger at a very young age. At the time of Moses’s birth Israelite boys were being drowned in the river Nile. Pharaoh was worried about the increasing number of Israelites and thought killing all the baby boys would overcome the problem. (I could never understand why he didn’t kill the little girls instead.)

In a twist that only God could have planned, Moses was brought up in an Egyptian household, which gave him the best training for his future role. When in a further twist, the baby’s sister, Miriam, suggested that their mother could care for the baby, instead of paying for child-care the mother of Moses was presumably paid to look after her own baby.

Because of his jealousy King Herod ordered the death of all baby boys. Death awaited Jesus and all the other infant boys, only God’s intervention sending the family to Egypt saved His life. But God reigns supreme, His will is sovereign. God had a special task for Moses, to lead his people towards the promised land and away from the yoke of slavery. Jesus also led His people to freedom and broke the yoke of sin by His redeeming death.

Food and Drink

Carol Purves Carol's Blog November 18, 2022November 11, 2022

God is the person who formed our bodies to need food and drink, so it is no wonder that both these things figured so largely in His own life. He had fish meals with His disciples by the sea-shore. He ate with Martha and Mary and witnessed a family dispute and finally He had the Last Supper with His closest friends. He turned water into wine and five loaves into a gigantic picnic.

In our own lives there is great gain in settling down to a meal together. Confidences are often shared over the meal table which might not happen in other places. We can extend hospitality through offering refreshment to friends, family and neighbours. Also the stranger, homeless and hungry can be fed by us. God created such a good thing when He made us needing food and drink.

Growth or Stagnation

Carol Purves Carol's Blog November 17, 2022November 11, 2022

As I thought about nature growing, maturing and progressing, I thought about my own Christian life. . Am I growing, progressing and maturing? As the seasons pass we can see the evidence of growth in nature. Can my progress be seen? Am I displaying the fruits of the spirit? Do people witness that I am less selfish, more patient and long-suffering as others are losing their tempers?

Do we really love, especially those people who annoy us or dislike us? Am I settled and comfortable, not reading the Word, praying or mixing with God’s people? So many questions but I trust that the answers are, by the grace of God, I am and I do.