Carol Purves

No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:13

As I live on a corner, I have a number of close neighbours. I wonder whether I love them equally. How do I love the Muslims or the kind neighbour next door. Do I equally love the neighbour who has had a house extension and blocked out some of my light and the old chap who cuts my lawn? I’m not too sure of my answer. But in the light of Christ I know what it should be.

Why my soul are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Saviour and my God. Psalm 42:11

What’s the difference between ‘cast down’ and’downcast?’ External circumstances can cause us to be cast down, while the dictionary tells me ‘downcast’ means, looking downwards and dejected. This is something we can bring on ourselves. Therefore we do need to praise God and not look down.

Jesus said, ‘Now that I your Lord and Teacher have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.’ John 13:14

The Bible tells us that Jesus wrapped a towel round himself before He washed the disciple’s feet. It made me realise that we have no idea what Jesus looked or what size towel he needed. Idealized pictures show Him as good looking, these are not necessarily true. Fortunately it doesn’t matter what He looked like. What matters is who He was and is.

Abram said to Lot ‘Let’s part company, if you go to the left I’ll go to the right. If you go to the right I’ll go to the left. Genesis 13:9

Abram had every right to choose first, but he let Lot make the first choice. In our live we often choose what is right, instead of choosing God’s will for us.

Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall. Psalm 46:6

This was written many thousands years ago, not this week. Mankind doesn’t change.

The Lord says ‘Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth.’ Psalms 46:10

Two little words which we so often ignore. ‘Be still.’ A difficult command in our ever increasingly rushing world. So many illnesses are caused because we do not ‘Be still.’

Trust and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him. Psalms 34:8

I pray that all my friends and relatives might know that the Lord is a ‘very present help in time of trouble.’

This poor soul cried and was heard by the Lord and was saved from every trouble. Psalm 34:6

I don’t think I’m reading this quite right. Being a Christian does not save you ‘from every trouble,’ but we are certainly heard by the Lord and helped.

The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save.

Zephaniah 3:17

When life is rushing along and everything seems to be going wrong, it is so good to be able to depend on this promise.

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33

So often we seek others things first and then the kingdom of God. Things don’t turn out quite right and we wonder why.