Only

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I’m not really part of the team, I only pray.’ I heard these words said the other day. Because she couldn’t cook the meals for the homeless or then serve them or then talk with the visitors she didn’t feel part of the team. Some one soon put her right; prayer is the glue that sticks it all together. Nothing of worth can happen without it.

But she was not alone. Moses had an answer when God directed him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, ‘Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt? Exodus 3:11 He felt unqualified for such a mammoth task as he was often tongue-tied. His brother Aaron had to be roped in to help him in his approach to Pharaoh

Gideon was another of the patriachs who had no faith in his abilities. When approached by God he said, ‘But Lord, how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manassah and I am the least in my family.’ Judges 6:15 God knew his strengths and with His guidance He knew he was the right man for the job.

One sometimes hears mothers saying ‘I’m only a housewife and mother.’ These people are tasked with one of the most important jobs in the world. There is no ‘only ‘about it. Whether it be Moses, Gideon or mothers, they are all needed in God’s master plan. He alone knows each and every ones potential. They will all need God to guide and direct them; they can’t do it alone and that also applies to each one of us.

Too Fast or too Slow.

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Continuing yesterday thoughts, going for a family walk is always an interesting experience, involving three generations, anything could happen. Now that Abie has learned to walk she is always rushing up to various dogs hoping to pat them, then becomes overwhelmed by their size and sits down and cries. She is keen to practice this new skill, though I have to say she doesn’t walk anywhere, she runs. Her motto must be ‘these legs are made for running.’ She tries to examine a bed of nettles, not realising they are not like other grasses. A nettle sting would be painful to her little hand.

The walks also include grandpa, his running days are well over, in fact his favourite speed is standing admiring the scenery. ‘Come on, grandpa, keep up.’ is our constant cry. Why is one so fast and the other slow? My irritation must be nothing compared with God’s exasperation with my following Him. I either lag behind not listening to His instruction or rush ahead and not wait for Him. Evie or grandpa, I alternate between the two. I wonder when I will learn!

Wait in the Lord

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Wait ‘in’ the Lord, not wait ‘for’ the Lord. If we wait for the lord, we are waiting impatiently for Him to act, by waiting ‘in’ Him we are resting and abiding in peace. We have the example of Abraham and Sarah as a classic case of waiting. We know the end of the story but during their time of waiting they only had the word of God and in one period they had to wait thirteen years for God’s next utterance. During that time Abraham had to continue managing his estates well so that when the promised son came, his affairs would be in a good condition to eventually hand over. Sarah had to continue running the household, the child would need a loving, well managed home in which to thrive.

I think of childless couple, with their longing being like a physical pain. So many conversations with friends would be about successful off-spring. Each word would be like a knife entering the soul. These children always sound very successful! The ‘waiters’ can only remain silent.

As the years went by for Abraham he would have learned so much about God and himself. The time would have equipped him further to be the man God wanted him to be and the father himself that God was training him to be.

In a world where the ‘same day’ ethos has become the buzz word, may we learn to wait in God and to walk at His pace, not to lag behind and not to walk ahead. God’s speed is the perfect one.

The Wisdom of Children

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I’m so wise because I pray to God.’ Not words one would expect a three year old to utter, We couldn’t be sure how much Evie appreciated what she was saying, did she even understand the meaning of the word ‘wise?’ Was she copying words from her parents? Whatever, the words made the adults in her life think Were they like Evie praying to God enough to absorb His wisdom? It’s often children who have direct thoughts about God. No wonder Jesus said that out of the mouths of babes comes wisdom.

Wisdom was the attribute that Solomon requested of God, when God offered him anything he desired. ‘ Give Your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern Your people, that I may descern between good and evil.’ 1 Kings 3:9.

Every day there is a need for us to demonstrate wisdom. What do we say, how do we act, what does this tricky situation require? The world is watching us and they will judge our God by our actions. Like little Evie we need to pray continuously because when we become Christians we do not automatically put on the mantle of wisdom. Like Solomon we need to ask for it.

Filling Up

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I was half way home before I realised I”d forgotten to do the last thing on my list. I’d forgotten to fill my car up with petrol. The next day wouldn’t do as I was going on a long journey and didn’t know the area or where there were any filling stations. Wearily I turned the car round. With a full tank I could set off the next day with confidence.

My forgetfulness had given me time to think. What about my fitness to proceed with my spiritual journey of life? Is my spiritual tank filled up with the fruits of the Spirit? My heart needs to be filled with love whatever obstacles I face.The world needs to see the joy I have in You. Peace is needed in tricky situations. Faithfulness, gentleness and self-control are more attributes I need.These fruits are the spiritual petrol necessary for my Christian journey.

There are numerous filling stations to be found. The Bible has stations on every page. There are extra boosts to be found in church fellowship; together we can share our fuel. Prayer gives our special petrol it’s power. The car won’t always run smoothly because there are the obstacles of life in the way but with the Holy Spirit it will always arrive at the correct destination.

God of Justice

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The Bible tells us in many places that God is just and loving. In my own life I’ve experienced His justice. He has given me all I want or need and given me far more than I deserve. So why do I have friends who suffer and struggle?

At this present time I am saddened by the situation of a friend who is going through all kinds of trouble. She has sick and ailing parents and parents-in-law, living a way away which involves travelling a distance to attend to their needs. Her role as a parent is particularly hard at this time . Now I’ve just heard that her mobile phone has been hacked. I have to cry out, why, Lord, why?

I thought I’d learned not to ask that question of the Lord. God reigns over all the universe. The Lord God can do no wrong. I do believe that. God does answer these prayers of mine, but often in ways I don’t expect. I love this friend of mine and don’t want her to suffer. There are all kinds of unsatisfactory answers I can give, Everything will work out all right in the end, she will have her reward in heaven, God is trying to teach her something. I do not understand at all, the only thing i can do is prayer and by sharing this with you all, I know you can pray for her too. God is the God of justice, I have no answers to my questions but I know God is in control.

Repeated Prayers

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There are times when this world seems to be an unjust place. Wickedness appears to abound. and wrong doing goes unpunished. The devil seems to have too much sway. We can feel helpless but this is not the case. We have a direct line to God to pray about these matters. The Bible tells us that the prayers of a righteous man avail much. By praying about injustice we can make a difference.

God is waiting to hear from us; He wants dialogue with us. Our persistent prayers do make a difference. When we look back over history, we see that prayer has made a difference. Prayer again slavery and communism with God filled action has made a change.

When we pray over an injustice we will not be the only person who is praying. Our prayers will be united with others to assail the Kingdom of Heaven. Persistent God-filled prayer will be effective. We read of the widow in a certain city, repeatedly bombarding a judge to give her justice. It was her continual persistence that eventually got her wish granted

When we pray for loved ones to come to faith, it might involve many years of prayer. There is never a time to give up. We all know wonderful stories where a husband or wife finds the Lord after decades of prayer. There is never a time to give up. It is said that George Muller prayed for 100 people who all repented before he died, except for six.who were converted at his funeral!

Who Do We Pray For?

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How much do our prayers reflect what is in our hearts? Are our prayers mainly for ourselves or for others.? We have so many wants and needs, there will always be problems and worries for the day ahead and the easing of aches and pain. E-mails, phone calls and the post will throw up further difficulties. Our prayer requests are endless. Suddenly the time we have allowed for prayer is over.

Then when will we be able to pray for those in need? When is the opportunity to pray for our needy neighbours, our sick relatives or the fragile political state of the world? Our prayers reflect the state of our hearts; are they selfish and inward-looking?. I have found a way of coping with this problem. During the night when I wake up i use this time of wakefulness to pray for others. I have a daily list for those who need my prayers, mostly for people who have still to come and love the Lord. Then I pray for those I know who have problems and finally I cast my mind back over the previous day and pray for those I had contact with.

Of course, I drift back to sleep during these times but as I re-awake I continue praying. I don’t feel it is wrong to have interrupted prayer in this way. During the night my prayers are always for others, never for myself. This ensures that others do get prayed for, I can always pray for myself at any time during the day. I don’t want a selfish heart.

Ears

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It has recently been pointed out to me that my hearing is not perfect, there are times I miss-hear or don’t hear at all. But I’m sure the same is true of my spiritual hearing as well. Do I hear when God is speaking to me, or am I like children when they pretend not to hear an instruction given to them? There are times when the words God says to us are unwelcome. We don’t want to hear His correction or a leading when it doesn’t fit in with out plans. Yet the prophets and the Psalmist urges the people on behalf of God, ‘Give ear to my cry’, ‘give ear to Me, all you nations.’ In Revelation we read ‘he who has ears to hear, let him hear.’

We need to keep our spiritual ears from harm. Listening to unsavory and un-Godlike things will do them and us harm. What goes in the ear will permeate into the mind and do spiritual damage. In .Philippians 4 we are urged ‘whatsoever things are true, noble, right, pure, lovely and honourable, think on these things.’

Hearing and listening is a two way thing. We also cry out to God for Him to hear us but fortunately, He is more ready to hear than we are to speak to Him. His ears are never damaged or closed. He will always hear.

Only a Housewife.

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‘Lord, I believe that You are the Messiah, the Son of God, the One coming into the world.’ John 11:25-27.

This was not said by someone who had spent their whole life studying the scriptures.These were words of affirmation which were uttered not by a learned scholar or member of Jesus’ elite group of disciples. This was not said by a scholarly person. It was said by a housewife. Martha, who we believe hadn’t spent her life in study, but preparing meals and washing up. She had grasped the fact that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God. This was the woman who previously been admonished by Jesus for being too preoccupied in domestic chores. Yet she had grasped the truth that many others had struggled to understand.

Today, when asked their occupation, some ladies apologetically answer, I’m just a housewife.’ ‘I’m a stay at home, mum.’ These are phrases which down-play important roles. Housework keeps home life ticking over. It has been said ‘the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world’, showing how important parenthood is. These roles can be used to shape youngsters in the way that they should go and many in later life will have cause to thank their parents.. We don’t read of Martha being a mother but she was a help and good influence to her family around her.