Lonely

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I read that in a certain nation it has been known for people to commit crimes so that they can have the companionship of inmates in a prison cell. That sounds a bit extreme to me, but have things really got that bad? Jesus knew how important it was to have friends and a support team. If Jesus needed that, surely so do we. There is the saying that to have a friend, we need to be a friend. That could be a ‘double whammy’ as we wouldn’t be so lonely and befriended would also have fellowship.

Of course isolated or sick people can’t do much remedy the situation but in my own life I make connections when I am fit so that when ill-health overtakes me, there are some friends already in place. The Bible is full of examples of friendship. Take David with his Jonathan, Elijah with Elisha, Paul with Timothy. Ecclesiastes 4:9 tells us ‘Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work.’ Mankind was made for relationships.

Thank You

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In the hurry and bustle of life its easy to forget to thank people. Do we remember to say thank you to the person who lets us through a door first, the girl at the checkout or the person who picks up something which we’ve dropped? A thank you goes a long way to improve a person’s day, especially if accompanied with a smile.

It seems it’s not the done thing now to thank someone who has given you a present. When I don’t even get an acknowledgement from a nephew or niece for presents they’ve received. I wonder if their thank you has got lost in the post, or if I should stop giving. I’m old enough to remember when it was different and sad enough to wish it was otherwise.

Does my own thanklessness stretch to even forgetting to thank God?. He has given us more than we can adequately give thanks for. As Isaac Watts said

‘Were the whole world of nature mine, that were a present far too small

Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.’

The Garden of Eden

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In Genesis 2:15 I like the idea that Adam had to work in the garden. This garden is described as having all kinds of trees growing there; trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. God knew the importance of trees on the earth and the dangers of deforestation.

I love working in my garden though when I’m complemented on the colourful display, I say ‘God and I do it together, but God does the clever bit.’ I enjoy the idea of working in tandem with God. Much as I need Him, He also need me. We all know that neglected gardens are soon overrun with weeds. Let the weeds stay in the fields and byways. When Eve came along I expect she was involved in the gardening as well. A team of two work better together.

I live in a part of the country which has a river running through it called the River Eden; a gift for flower shops and restaurants which name their businesses The Garden of Eden. Although it is as muddy and probably polluted as any other river, it still feels special Dare I name my very small garden, the Garden of Eden. Probably not as it doesn’t even contain a tree.

We are Heavenly Creatures

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‘We are not earthly creatures on a heavenly journey; we are heavenly creatures on an earthly journey.’ This is not my quote but from a wise person, and one which caused me to stop and think. There are times when we feel very much like earthly creatures, struggling in an alien land and impatient to be in heaven.

This earth feels alien precisely because we are in fact heavenly creatures. Our is an up-side-down faith. Day by day we learn more of our God and His will for us. At the present time it is an earthly journey. As it has been said ‘We are just passing through, heaven is our home.’ Because heaven is our home we therefore are heavenly creatures.

One More Found

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We probably all have friends and family who once faithfully followed Jesus but lately seem to have fallen away. Often our task is to pray for their return. In many instances we will not be able to speak to them or contact them, our task is to pray. I refrain from using the word ‘just’. Our prayers on earth have so much power in heaven. Luke 15 tells of the angels in heaven rejoicing when these people return to the fold.

I believe this parable points to the ‘found’ who have become ‘ lost’. as well as those who have never been ‘found’. I also believe that once someone is truly saved they cannot be lost for ever, but I know there are different opinions about this. Along with the angels we also can rejoice at these transformations, whether our prayers have been involved or not. How uplifting it is to hear of people praying for many years and their prayers finally being answered. Like all of us, I have a number of people on my list.

Worry

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Why do we humans worry about the problems which should be handed over to God? Our God is all-seeing and all-knowing, He knows the end from the beginning. He knows and understands every facet of a problem. The phrase ‘why worry when you can pray?’ I often turn into ‘Why pray when you can worry.’ Pray is the answer to our problems.

Paul tells us in his letter to the Philippians ‘I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.’ Philippians 4:13 We can achieve so much more with God at our side, as we walk alongside Him. To let go is difficult for us. But we need to remember how fallible we are. At the moment i have a few problems which I tend to worry about in the night. With a real effort I try to turn my worries into prayer.

‘O what peace we often forfeit ….. all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.’ From ‘What a Friend we have in Jesus.’ Joseph Scrivener

In Complete Control

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Psalm 66:6 tells us ”For by His great power He rules for ever.’ This great all-powerful God was in complete control at the final trial of Jesus when he chose to remain silent. He was accused of the most terrible crimes but by His power and self-control He chose not to speak. So when He did break His silence His words were all the more powerful.

He was asked ‘Are you the Christ, the Son of the most Blessed?’ It was then He chose to speak with the words, ‘I am.’ All hell broke loose as the High Priest tore his clothes in his anguish and the court went into meltdown. This was the battered prisoner who was supposed to grovel and plead. Instead His words rang out clearly across the court ‘ I am the Christ, the Son of the Blesse’d.’ Our Lord was the one in complete control, while His accusers were powerless and impotent. ‘For by His great power He rules for ever.’

Worse Day Ever

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My 87 year old friend suffered a very severe attack of food poisoning. She told me, ‘I felt so ill, it was one of the worst days of my life.’ Just imagine how the disciples were feeling on Good Friday. Without doubt the very worse day of their lives.

For three years they had followed Jesus, they’d been with Him on the good days and the bad. They had witnessed the feeding of the five thousand, seen and marvelled at many miracles, as well as listening to hours of His teaching. They were beginning to think that He was the promised Messiah and that there were great days to come.

Then suddenly He became ‘enemy number one.’ Where were all the great dreams now? Wherever they were hiding in fear they would have known of the barbaric treatment of their beloved Master. From some viewpoint they would have seen His stumbling journey to the place of Execution. His body on the cross was prominent; they would have seen His anguish and then His slump into death.

All hope gone. The worst day ever.

‘Save Yourself’

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It is completely beyond belief that Jesus, the Son of God, the creator of the world should hang helpless, bleeding and dying on a cross. The crowd who passed by shouted, ‘Save yourself, come down from the cross.’ The scribes jeered at Him, ‘He cannot save himself.’

That was the irony of the situation. The all-powerful Jesus could so easily have saved Himself. He had the power and way beyond to do that. His real power and strength lay in the fact that He didn’t save Himself. He knew He had to die and rise again to be able to save the sins of the world. No wonder He said ‘Father forgive them. They know not what they do.’ His life, His miracles and His teaching were not the important thing about Him. His dying and resurrection signified who He was and what He was about.

It is so sad for the people who regard Easter time as just another holiday or an interruption in their working week. They know about Ramadan and the Passover as religious times but fail to understand the significance of Easter. It is not just another Bank Holiday.

Crowded Week

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Although Jesus was in the last week of His earthly life before His crucifixion it didn’t stop Him interacting with people. The chief priests, teachers of the law and elders were still attacking Him verbally. ‘By what authority are You doing these things?’ they asked. As so often Jesus answered their question with a question of His own. ‘John’s baptism, was it from heaven or of human origin?’ Jesus knew there was no safe answer to His question. If they said ‘from heaven’ they would be forced to believe in Him. If they replied ‘from earth’ they would incur the wrath of the crowds,. Once again Jesus had the upper hand.

The Sadducees who didn’t believe in resurrection posed the question of a seven times widowed woman. ‘At the resurrection whose wife will she be?’ ‘God is not the God of the dead but of the living.’ Again His accusers had no answer.

A teacher of the law asked what is the greatest commandment?’ Jesus pointed to the one that the teacher and us fail to obey. ‘Love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.’ That causes us all to soul-search.