Author: Carol Purves

Gaps in the Clouds

Carol Purves Carol's Blog

I always sit in the same chair for my morning devotion, looking out of the window up at the sky. I notice on overcast mornings there are tiny blue gaps in the grey clouds. It seems as if God is trying to get through the greyness of my wandering mind.

I have to confess that while praying my mind does wander and I think of everything except my God. These tiny blue pockets of blueness bring my mind back to why I am there. God pierces through my blanket of wayward thoughts and brings me back to Himself.

Not that One

Carol Purves Carol's Blog , ,

It seems that all the eight sons of Jessie were strong, and good-looking. Samuel thought that Eliab, Abinadab or Shammah were ideal king material. They had the looks. But as we know God looks at the heart. It would appear that only David had a heart attuned to God.

We only need to read the psalms to know that Samuel, following God’s leading, got it right. However fallible and sinful David was, he still had a heart towards God. When we read further about the exploits of this family we find that the brothers were unkind and mean towards David when he went to the battlefield. Maybe by this time they were jealous. It can’t be easy being the brother of a future king. but God doesn’t make mistakes.

In a Group

Carol Purves Carol's Blog ,

On a recent coach journey, where I was fortunate enough to have a front seat, I was interested to note that each time a coach passed in the opposite direction, my driver raised his hand in acknowledgement. I realised they all belonged to a special group – coach drivers! They could understand each others highs and lows in a way only they could appreciate.

I’ve noticed similar groupings with railway station staff, tennis players and on a larger scale, football supporters, as well as many other groups. It seems to be a basic human need, to belong.

A significantly larger group are Christians. Wherever we are in the world we can relate to and understand our fellow Christians. I pray this group will greatly increase in size. Anyone can join.

Cloud of Fire

Carol Purves Carol's Blog

Sadly, exiles are much in the news these days. The Israelites were in this state for forty years. They didn’t even know where the Promised Land was. We pray for Ukrainians won’t have forty weeks. The Israelites weren’t alone, God guided them with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. This seems to signify that they sometimes had to travel through the night. Can you imagine fractious children and old people who only wanted their quota of sleep.

It isn’t only the Israelites; we need our pillars today.

Your Rod and Staff they Comfort Me

Carol Purves Carol's Blog , ,

I used to struggle with the idea of a rod and staff being of comfort, as we read in the 23rd psalm.

The only rod I had known as I was growing up was a rod which was used to punish me when I was naughty (I think that was quite often and it was allowed in those days) A staff was probably something else I associated with punishment. How could they comfort me?

After some research I now know that the rod was used by shepherds to count the sheep as they passed under it and the staff was used to drive away wild animals. So I can now say ‘ Your rod and staff, they comfort me.’ Thanks be to God.

This Same Jesus

Carol Purves Carol's Blog ,

At the time of the ascension of Jesus, the disciples were told in Acts 1:11 ‘this same Jesus who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.’

This was the same Jesus wo had lived among them for three years, the same Jesus who had taught them, performed miracles and opposed the Pharisees. This same Jesus turned the world up side down and whom thy had worshipped and betrayed.

As I pray and study the Bible each morning, this is the same Jesus who was in Galilee and Jerusalem. He is now in heaven and also on earth and is willing to comfort, guide and instruct me. ‘This same Jesus’. What a wonderful thought!

One Percent

Carol Purves Carol's Blog ,

Thomas Edison is reputed to have said ‘Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.’

Is our life as a Christian at all like that. Christ has done the 100% by His sacrifice on the cross. He has done everything necessary; we cannot earn salvation by ourselves. It is all of Him. But we are not to be passive. There are things we can do working with Him. We can be His hands and feet down here on earth. He has given us talents which are to be used in His work. We can learn what is His will for us. God has given us everything but He has graciously given us the privilege of working with Him. After all, His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

Different Directions

Carol Purves Carol's Blog ,

As I sat looking out of my window I noticed a lady struggling with two dogs on leads. As I live near a playing field my road is popular with dog-walkers off to give their dogs a good run. But this lady was noticeable because her two dogs were pulling in the opposite direction. She didn’t look very strong and was finding it difficult to make any progress.

Do we find this in our churches? Some people can hold very strong views and be convinced that they are right. They may not always show enough grace. People take one side, others agree with the opposition. Splits can begin to show. It is not a matter of being right or wrong; it is a matter of working together for the furtherance of God’s kingdom.

We read in the Bible that matters were not always amicable in the early church. I wonder if we have learned anything today.

Brokenness

Carol Purves Carol's Blog ,

We live in a broken world; we are a broken people. The good news is that God uses broken things and broken people. The farmers break the soil to plant the grain and produce the crops; the clouds above our heads need to break to give much-needed rain. Bread is broken to give us nourishment and especially broken bread in our act of communion. Mary’s alabaster jar was of no use until it was broken.

Christ’s body was broken for us and as a broken people God can use us, as our brokenness softens our souls. God in His wisdom will break us and where necessary heal us.