Out of Touch

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Since I moved a few days ago I’ve been out of touch without a working television, computer or landline. This has meant I’ve spent my time reading three very interesting books.

I started with ‘Just Walk across the Room’ by Bill Hybels. The idea is that when we see someone alone, under God’s guidance, we just walk across the room and start a conversation with them. God will steer the talk in the right direction. We just need to do the walking.

Secondly I read ”Invest Your Suffering’ by Paul Mallard. His wife Edrie has had a painful illness, similar to M.S. for over 20 years, With much weeping and soul-seeking, they have dedicated their suffering to the Lord and His glory.

Finally, I read the autobiography of Gipsy Smith, a gipsy boy who was wonderfully converted when a teenager and went on to become well-known evangelist in many parts of the English-speaking world. He worked for a time with General Booth of the Salvation Army and the American evangelists Moody and Sankey.

Then fortunately, or unfortunately my computer and phone were re-connected and now my reading time is limited.

Herod the Great

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What is greatness? Herod earned the name of Great in part because of his building regime. During his time in power he completed a number of building projects, including those in and around Jerusalem, especially the temple. He had been proclaimed King of the Jews, so it was no wonder that he took fright when the Magi asked about a similar named person.

There are two types of greatness, human created greatness and divine greatness. The human type attempts to rob God of His power. Looking at psalm 145:3 we read ‘great is the Lord and most worthy of praise.’ The life of Jesus shows the highest form of greatness. For our sake He became poor. Philippians 2:6 ‘He did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage……….. He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death -even death on a cross.’

We are called to greatness only because we are made in the image of God but we mustn’t be tempted to be great in our own strength. We need to consider who is on the throne in our own lives.

Michal

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How often have you heard a sermon about the life of Michal (pronounced mee CHAL)? Well I have now. At our church we are going through a list of dubious characters in the Bible and last week Michal was the topic. She was the daughter of Saul and given to David as his wife. It seems that she was very much in love with David but for David it was probably a political marriage.

The most well known incidence in her life was when she despised David as he danced with joy before the ark, scantily clothed. She also suffered periods of exile and it seems she was not happy in the marriage.

As always I wondered what moral the preacher would have for us in the 21st century. What did I need to learn from the story and the sermon? Where did Michal turn her eyes. We fix our eyes on who we love. As she loved David, she only fixed her eyes on him and not God. Do we fix our eyes on what we love? – God. And a final thought God fixes His eyes on us because He loved us.

The Lost Pen

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As I’ve just moved house I tend to be told disasters stories of other people’s moves. The most amusing was from my bank manager. When they moved house his wife had the job of packing and labeling the boxes, while he did some of the heavier jobs. As we know labeling the boxes is one of the most important jobs. Box after box she packed and used a marker pen to indicate what was placed inside.

All went well until she inadvertently packed the marker pen inside one box and couldn’t remember which one she had placed it in. I never heard how the problem was solved. Do we do that with the Holy Spirit? We can pack away and hide one of the most important factors of our Christian lives.

I Pray

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The other day I was asked what I did towards a certain Christian work that was being done in our church. I replied, ‘I only pray.’ As you can imagine I was soon told off. There is no ‘only’ about praying. No church work would come to completion without those who pray for it. Prayer is an important way that God accomplishes His work. He wants to hear from us; He wants to talk with us. Prayer moves the hand that moves the world. It was Alfred Lord Tennyson who said’ ‘more things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.’

It has been told that two old ladies in America prayed consistently for Billy Graham when he was a young lad and as we say the rest is history. We all know in our own lives that miracles have happened because we prayed. So I don’t now say ‘I only prayer.’ I say ‘I have the privilege of being able to pray.’

Praying for Others

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The other day I read of someone who kept a payer diary where anyone they knew who had a birthday, they prayed for them the whole birthday month. They also asked if there was anything specific they could pray for them. Being an ordered kind of person, I’ve tried various systems to pray for others. There have been shortcomings in every method.

I think this idea appeals to me, but there are many people with needs whose birthday I don’t know. I so easily forget to pray for certain people or I have their request on a piece of paper and then lose it. I’ve also kept names on index cards and prayed for one person each day , but it took me too long to get through the pile.

I also feel it is not right to spend all my time praying for others, I also need to just sit and enjoy time in the presence of God. I know that God answers every prayer we make, but sometimes we don’t see the results for a long period of time, so making a list of answered prayers would only show prayers that have been answered to my satisfaction.

I believe the method we use to pray for others isn’t important, it will be different for everyone. The most important thing is that we do pray without ceasing and keep in communication with God. He so wants to have fellowship with us.

Just for Me

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It’s strange how things can come into our minds that we haven’t thought about for decades. This can happen with choruses we used to sing in Sunday School as youngsters and teenagers. Sometimes today the words might sound a little dated but the messages were simple and contained truths that have not changed.

The following choruses by Elsie D, Yate has been continuously playing in my mind recently,

‘There’s a work for Jesus ready at your hand,

T’is a work the Master just for you has planned,

Haste to do His bidding, yield Him service true,

There’s a work for Jesus none but you can do.’

Do you used to sing this? I fervently believed this when I was a teenager and I still do today. It is no good me hankering after jobs that God doesn’t want me to do. I might want to sing or play in the worship band. God ruled that out by my poor quality of singing and flutist fingers that have stiffened with age. At one time I wanted to be a missionary, but my poor health and complete inability to learn foreign languages made that a no-go.

My sphere of service these days is through my writing and other things behind the scenes. With the possibility of my having an inflated ego, that’s just where God wants me to be. I pray that I will be ‘a round peg in a round hole.’

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Large and Small Prayers

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How wonderful that God answers prayers both large and small. If a prayer is according to is will and if it is for our good He will answer with a resounding ‘yes.’

In my church we have a lovely man who is a refugee, whose life was in danger because he was a Christian. In his own country he had left behind work, family, friends, everything because of his faith. He has made application to stay in this country but while waiting for the result he was told that he would be moved to another place. Our church mounted a massive prayer for him, while praying at the same time that God’s will would be done. The news came back that he would be moved, but to another place in our same city. There was such wide-spread rejoicing.

At the same time I had asked a few of my friends to pray for a small problem that I had with my move. By comparison my prayer need was so small but I felt led to ask for this prayer. On the same day as our refugee friend’s prayer was answered, so was mine.

I felt so humbled that God would answer my tiny prayer while also answering the large one. But then our God isn’t a one-dimensional God. He does not slumber or sleep.As the hymn say,’ He’s got the whole world in His hands.’

Wearing Out

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I know I’m not alone in getting older but bits of me don’t work as well as they used to. I can’t climb hills or mountains any more which is a pity as I live in the Lake District with some of the highest mountains in the country. No longer do I run for buses and even use a stick on uneven pavements. Now I wear glasses for reading as well as well for long distance. But I’m full of rejoicing.

I have time to sit and watch the birds and butterflies. There is time to listen to people who want to unburden their problems. I would like to think I’ve gained wisdom as well as years. There is time to delve into the Bible and discover more of it’s treasures.

Finally, though I know that my body is wearing out and my time here on this earth is less than it was, I soon will not need my body as there is a new one waiting for me in heaven. Waiting for me is a place with no more pain or parting or death. 2 Corinthians 4:16 tells us ‘we do not lose heart, though outwardly we are wasting away yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory.’

He Knows

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I know how important it is when we engage in the act of Holy Communion. Each time I partake of this sacrament it is one less time for me to take it on this earth. I try to concentrate, connect with God and take it seriously.

One Sunday morning I just could not concentrate. I had a pressing problem which needed an answer fairly soon. During the service I kept praying to God to help me concentrate more; I asked for forgiveness for my inattention, but still I couldn’t keep my mind on the matter in hand. There was no way I could be mindful and joyful.

At the end of the service my friend sitting next to me and having no idea of the turmoil that was going on in my mind , uttered one sentence. That one sentence was the answer to my worry and problem. I no longer had a problem, I knew the answer.

I realised that even as I was sinning with my inattention, God was at work. If only I had been able to say to God,’ I have a worry but I’m going to give it to you and give You my full attention..’ I would not have missed the blessing that God was trying to give to me.