Carol Purves

‘There is nothing that you need between here and heaven which is not provided by Jesus Christ’. Charles Spurgeon.

We tend to need more money, instant success, more possessions. None will give us lasting satisfaction. We have absolutely all that we need here on earth.

God is the Author and Finisher and everything in between.

He is the Alpha and Omega and everything in between.

We don’t know Him well enough, that is why we do not trust Him enough. More knowledge mean more trust.

Life is getting faster and faster. I don’t find this just because I’m older. young people say it as well. Everything needs to be instantaneous, presumably to save time. People speak faster. When I sold my last house, the estate agent spoke so fast that I asked him to repeat everything. What a waste of time!

I understand in offices lunch breaks are cut out. People eat at their desks. That is if they have a desk. There is now hot-desking, people sharing desks. Electrical devices are out of date before people have learned to use them.

We are missing so much by rushing. We need to be still before God, so we don’t miss out on His blessings.

‘Be still and know that I am God.’ Psalm 46:10

‘Remain in me as I also remain in you.’ John 15:4

In the first 8 verses of this chapter the words ‘remain ‘ are mentioned 7 times. This show how important it is. It also reminds us how dim we are. God needs to say it so often.

The importance is just remaining in God; it is not about good work or what we do.

When reading my Bible the other day I was reminded of the motto of the town where I used to live. ‘Act justly and love mercy.’ Of course the Bible says more than that ‘ What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8

The additional words make all the difference. The question is about what the Lord requires of us. Yes, we need to act justly, no-one would deny that. And we need to love mercy; a very good sentiment. But then the words that are important ‘Walk humbly with your God.’

Maybe my old town was missing the importance of the quote.

By some I am known as ‘the sock lady.’ No, not because I wear them. I have more fashion sense than that. But I always carry a pair of men’s socks with me when I go into town. On our streets, like many towns, there are the homeless, those who have very little, not even a home.

If I give these people money they are likely to use it on drink or drugs and there is a limit to how many coffees they can drink in a day. Socks could help to keep them warm in winter and if they have a surplus of socks, they could be worn on their hands.

I know that some beggars are actually rich and are taking people like me for a ride, but I would rather be conned by the few than ignore the many. This is the answer to the question, Who is my neighbour?

‘Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.’ 1 John 3:18

‘Who shall be able to separate us from the love of Christ; shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? Romans 8:30

The conversation of Paul was extreme; his suffering was extreme. He suffered all these things, though not all at once. On the whole we have calmer lives. We could suffer one or two of these conditions and we know that they cannot separate us from Christ.

I would like to add one further condition – ill health. When I am ill I find it difficult to pray or read my Bible. It is at those times that God carries me. I have to leave it to others to pray for me. I do praise God that He doesn’t desert me in those conditions. Nothing can separate me.

‘If God be for us who can be against us?’ Romans 8:31

In one of my previous jobs I was accused of something I had not done. Although I was later exonerated my reputation had been lost. ‘No smoke without fire’ I heard muttered. It took a while before the lies against me were exposed for what they were. Lies

I thought about the lies told about Jesus. Lies and accusations which led to the cross. Yet He was as a sheep against his shearer who is dumb. That could not be said about me. I made a great deal of fuss. Yet I knew that God was for me and therefore who could ultimately be against me.

‘To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable in others because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.’ C.S.Lewis

‘If we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.’ 1 Timothy 6:8

The trouble is that we so often are not content with what we have. We are bombarded with advertisements on every hand telling us what we really must have.

I’ve just heard that my missionary friend who is working in England is spending the same amount of money as she was in 1999 and no more. That sounds almost impossible.

The homeless have just what they stand up in or what they can carry on their back.

We know that we can’t take earthly possessions with us when we die but we still yearn for more of these things.