Prayer Meeting

Carol Purves Carol's Blog

Paul and his companions were on their travels and when they had reached the city of Philippi in Acts 16 we read that on the Sabbath they did what was natural for them and went looking for a group of worshippers. At the riverside they found a number of women, who were praising God. Imagine how the women would have felt, they were only meeting up in the usual way when this famous apostle and his friends joined with them.

One of the women, Lydia, was a seller of purple goods and had also been baptised. She was so impressed by Paul’s teaching and his message that she urged Paul and his friends to stay with her. Imagine the conversations they would have had in the evenings!

It was the habit for these women to meet and pray. If they hadn’t bothered or decided to opt out on that day they would have missed a tremendous blessing. There is a lot to be said for being in the right place at the right time, under God’s will.

As young people we used to speculate where we would be on the day of the Second Coming. Of course, we couldn’t be in church the whole time, nor did we want to be found in a place of ‘ill repute’, whatever we thought that was! We do need to be in the place where God wants us to be, whether in an unsavoury place witnessing, visiting a hospital or singing praises in church. The important thing is not the ‘where’ but being in God’s will.

Black Friday

Carol Purves Carol's Blog

Today is Black Friday and Good Friday all rolled into one. Black Friday because it is the day on which our Saviour was crucified. We remember it every year and it is no less horrific. Jesus, part of the Trinity and the Creator of the world, put to death in the most barbaric way. How could have God allowed it to happen? There were myriads and myriads of angels who could have saved Him. He could have been whipped away to heaven at any time. Yet we have to be so thankful that it didn’t happen like that. It had been foretold that He would die in this way as prophet after profit had predicted it would happen. The account in the gospels are vivid. Matthew, Mark, Luke and specifically in John’s gospel. This Friday is not the cheap Black shopping day that we have now, but black with the sky becoming dark and God turning His face away. It is black, because of our sins. That’s an uncomfortable thought.

But this day is generally known as Good Friday. How can this be? It is ‘good’ because there is an Easter Sunday coming. The Sunday when Jesus rose from the dead, having died for our sins, He was triumphant, death had been conquered, Jesus had conquered it. Praise the Lord, Sunday is coming, Easter Sunday.

Not Chosen

Carol Purves Carol's Blog

Israel needs a new king as their present king, Saul, has been rejected by God. So Samuel is sent to Bethlehem, to the household of Jessie, as one of his sons ‘is God’s Chosen One.’ Eliab, Abinadab and Shammah in spite of their fine appearance were not chosen by God. Nor were any of the other of Jessie’s sons who were present. David, the youngest, hadn’t even been summonsed, it wasn’t even considered that God would chose him as king!.

David is God’s anointed and is also chosen by Saul to play his harp to him when the evil spirits visited , so David spent his time between the palace and with his sheep. David is now aware of the threats that Goliath is making and when requested to take provisions to his brothers, Eliab’s his anger was kindled against David, maybe it was jealousy that David had been anointed. ‘Why have you come down and with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your presumption and the evil in your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.1 Samuel 17:28.

David could have replied, ‘I have been sent by our father to bring you provisions,’ instead he said what younger siblings have often said, ‘What have I done now?’ Family squabbles put to one side, David went forward and slew the great giant. God has different plans for each one of us and it is our job to obey.

We Began by Praying

Carol Purves Carol's Blog

‘Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.’

Psalm 46:2

In 2010 a collapse in the San Jose copper/gold mine trapped 33 miners. The miners were over 2,000 ft deep, three miles from the entrance and had only enough food for three days which in the event they managed to eke out for sixteen. That was a miracle. One of the miners, Jose Henriquez, organised the group to pray regardless of their faith or religion. They all agreed that prayer was their only hope in their desperate situation. On the 17th day they heard drilling. They had been found, that was another miracle. But saving them would be more difficult. When the drill reached them they were able to send up a note to say they were all safe

Above ground the families were all gathered together where they could support each other and prayer was also taking place on the surface as their fate was affecting the whole nation. After 69 days they were all safely rescued and by then 22 of the men had made a profession of faith, more miracles. Jose later said. ‘When we felt we had lost everything, I could say that we hadn’t lost prayer and as you can see, prayer works.’

The Power of Memory

Carol Purves Carol's Blog

‘The heavens declare the glory of God and the sky above proclaims His handiwork.’ Psalm 91:1

It was a very ordinary group of trees and shrubs. As it was early spring the leaves hadn’t yet started to appear, so the branches stood out in their silhouetted beauty. At the base of the trees were shrubs of various shapes and sizes. It front there was an ordinary country wooden fence, partly broken in places. As the wind blew around, I sat sheltered in my car and I was struck by how ordinary everything was, yet to my eye it was a beautiful sight. Maybe I was seeing it with Christ-filled eyes.

It was a sight that has stayed in my mind. Like Wordsworth’s daffodils I keep recalling the scene. To my right had been the traffic driving by, but it was no distraction. Hidden behind the trees was a small industrial site. But none of this registered. Even months later I can recall the picture and the sense of God’s presence. He isn’t just felt in beautiful mountains or magnificent cathedrals. He is everywhere and in everything. But we do need to give ourselves time to feel Him. It’s a case of the still, small voice.

Christless Eyes

Carol Purves Carol's Blog

When I moved into the Lake District a few year’s ago I realised it was just as beautiful as I had been told. Soaring mountains, which a few years ago I had climbed, wonderful lakes and beauty at every turn of the road or track. The only downside it is very crowded in the summer with nowhere to park and quieter in winter with inclement weather.

Standing at the bus-stop one day I couldn’t help saying to the young girl in the queue. ”Isn’t is beautiful here, the hills, the open spaces, the mountains. Don’t you think it’s wonderful!’ She looked at me with disdainful eyes, ‘Na, it’s too green.’ I was taken back and couldn’t think of a reply. How can God’s world be too green? Did she have a green allergy? She probably wanted more shops and night-life. Her thoughts were earthly and not heavenly.

George Robinson’s hymn puts it simply,

‘Heavenly above is softer blue, earth below is sweeter green,

Something lives in every hue, Christless eyes have never seen.’

As Christians we have eyes that can see God’s beauty which can be lost to others. Probably because we know the Creator and love Him. We, like Him, can see beyond the scars, the horrors and the tragedies.

Corrie Ten Boom

Carol Purves Carol's Blog

‘Therefore do not worry about tomorrow.’ Matthew 6:34

Cornelia ten Boom was born in Holland on the 15th April 1892, the daughter of a Christian watchmaker. In 1940 during the Second World War, when their country of Holland was occupied by the enemy. Along with her family, she helped to save 800 Jews to escape from the Nazis by hiding them in a small wardrobe closet in their home. Because of betrayal by a neighbour, the family and the hidden Jews were sent to a concentration camp. Their father did not live long there and her sister, Betsie, died just before Connie’s release.

Eventually Corrie went back to the Netherlands and published a book , ‘The Hiding Place’ telling of her experiences. Later she went to California dying there at the age of 91. Her writings are punctuated by her wise sayings, which reflect her Christian feelings.

‘Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.’ A thought that sustained her during her internment.

‘Forgiveness is an act of the will and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart.’ This was a forgiveness Corrie had to use when she met her former prison guard after the war and was able, after hesitation, to shake his hand.

‘You can never learn that Christ is all you need, until Christ is all you have.’ and’ ‘worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties the body of its strength today.’

Who is it About?

Carol Purves Carol's Blog

The Bible is not about us, it gives us guidance and help, but it is never about us. Nor is it a self-help book to be placed on library shelves next to books that are classed as ‘self-help’.’ In fact in our Christian lives there is no place for self-help. The Psalmist tells, ‘My help comes from the Lord, Maker of heaven and earth.’ Psalm 121:2.’ The phrase ‘the Lord helps those who help themselves’ is completely wrong. God is our help, our feeble efforts don’t count. Look at the book of Job, do any of the questions that God asks Job have the answer ‘Yes.’ No, we were not there at the beginning of the world. It is not our job to keep it running smoothly. All we can do is obey God, He will do the rest.

The Bible tells about God, His place in our lives and our place in His great universe. Why do we think everything revolves around us? Are we like the astronomers of old who thought the sun revolved round the earth. They had got it completely the wrong way round. May we be lost in wonder, love and grace as we contemplate Him and obey.

Let us continue reading the Bible, gaining from its instructions, its comfort and guidance. God is there for us, we are not there for God. Our existence is in His love.

I Need You

Carol Purves Carol's Blog

‘I thirst for You, my whole being longs for You.’ Psalm 63:1

Later in this psalm the writer declares. ‘I will worship You all my days.’ verse 4. I’ve never actually been in a desert and longed for the life-giving water. Complete lack of water to drink is life-threatening. The nearest I’ve come to being thirsty is when I used to go hill-walking in the mountains of North Wales. Our walks under the hot Welsh sun (though not as hot as the desert) made us thirsty and it was back in post-war days when the pubs closed at 3.00pm. The last mile of our walks, which fortunately were mostly downhill, would be done at breakneck speed before Time was called.

Can my love for God been compared to a deep thirst, can yours? How deeply do I thirst? This world is a barren land and we are strangers in it. We don’t fit in, are we thirsty for the love of God, His leading and comfort? Ours is a barren and thirsty land.

So that we can worship Him all our days, the words by Annie Sherwood Hawks in 1872 encourage us.

‘I need You, Oh, I need You

Every hour I need You,

Bless me now my Saviour,

‘I come to you’

Be Positive

Carol Purves Carol's Blog

Many years ago, one of my jobs was working as a secretary in the Blood Transfusion Centre. We received the samples from various centres round the area, recorded them and then sent them to the lab. Very interesting work and I felt I was doing my very small part for the health of the country. While working there I found out my blood group was B. Positive.

That could be an instruction for all our lives. Is our glass half empty of half full? Are we optimists or pessimists? Do we have a positive attitude? No-one likes a person who is always miserable and seeing the down-side of life. Such people can be a drain on us. We all need people who see the bright side and encourage us. One way to be an optimist is to praise God and be thankful to Him. The psalms give us many examples of praise to God.

‘Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.’ Psalm 136:1.

‘Praise the Lord, for it is good to sing praise to our God.’ Psalm 147:1.‘

‘Give thanks to the God of Heaven, for His steadfast love endures for ever.’ Psalm 136:26

So whether you are B Positive or are able to be positive, praise the Lord.