Who Am I?

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‘What is your job?’ ‘What do you do?.On meeting a new acquaintance these are the kind of questions that we tend to ask. What we should really be asking is ‘Who are you?’

We are not defined by what we do. We can’t be described by what family we have. The misplaced questions can have various answers – nurse, brick-layer, accountant and mother, son, second cousin three times removed. These answers talk about our jobs and family relationships, not who we are on the inside.

The Bible gives us the best answers; we are beloved by God and we are redeemed. We are not servants but heirs. My identity is hidden in God.

The House of the Lord

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‘I was glad when they said to me,’Let us go to the house of the Lord!’ Psalm 118:19

God made us for community and allowed us to have places of worship, places where we can praise the Lord together. But communal worship is not always possible. We think of those in countries where Christians are persecuted and those because of distance or ill-health can’t meet together.

For the last seven weeks I haven’t been able to attend church and have had to worship at home. It’s possible to watch the services on line but that actually made me sadder. But God has allowed me to worship with Himself. He’s sent me the noisy blackbirds who have devoured the meagre food I have set out for them. God has allowed me to witness a single robin to scrabbling for the early morning worms. I’ve watched the emergence of tiny snowdrops and bright crocuses.

When I was able to return to church it was with renewed enthusiasm and I shed a few tears at being able to fellowship with others. ‘I was glad ………….’

25/8

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I’d not heard the phrase before. It obviously is a more extreme form of 24/7. God didn’t intend us to live at that frantic pace. He gave us one day in seven for us to rest and recharge our batteries. In whatever shape it takes it is a chance to slow down.

When we read of creation in Genesis we see that the morning and evening of each day are mentioned, but not on the seventh day. Does that mean that there will eventually be everlasting rest? I’m not sure of the reason, except that God had finished His work. With the Israelites celebrating the Sabbath it set them apart from their neighbouring nations. The Israelites were emotionally and spiritually free.

On our Sabbaths days we need to do three things. We need to plan them, they need to be intentional. Then they need to be used as extra time to spend with God. And finally they need to be shared with other Christians.

Wants and Needs

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I’ve recently discovered once again that God always provides all my needs but not always my wants. Often what I think I want is not what God knows I need. I might want a sunny day to go out and enjoy myself but God knows that the farmers need rain, which is more important than my little desires. I can want perfect health and plenty of money. Neither would make me a more useful person to serve the Lord.

God has recently send me friends with offers of help just then I’ve needed them. I’ve wanted more visitors when I’ve been ill and I’ve wanted help just when I’ve wanted it. But God has sent the friends and help at just the right time. He really is better at running my life than I am!

It’s not just me. God is better at running the world than any politician or leader. No-one has enough wisdom. If only we could turn over the world to God more, it would be a better place.

Moving House

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Moving house is one of the largest upheavals in our lives. Will we find a buyer for our present house? Will we find another house that we like, at a price we can afford. When we have moved will we find snags which we hadn’t noticed before? When moving house in the past, I’ve not always prayed enough about. But God has been faithful. He has looked after me even when I’ve moved away from Him.

The final move that we make might be hard but the final result will be perfect. In heaven there will be no problems such as we have on earth. We will be made abundantly welcome. And hopefully we will hear the words ‘Well done good and faithful servant.’

Old Stars

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King David tells us in Psalm 8 ‘The moon and the stars you set in place.’ When David looked up into the heavens and saw the stars, they were already very old. But he acknowledged that God had put them all in place. Depending on where we are in the world we can see those stars, though now they are many thousands of years older.

It’s amazing to think of the age and steadfastness of the stars. They were created by a constant God. Our God is just as reliable. He will never fade away or dim. While the earth remains so will the stars and the consistency of a consistent God.

Calling His Disciples

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It’s hard to imagine the disciples hearing the call of Jesus to follow Him and then just ‘upping sticks’ and leaving their families and occupations. Though on doing some study I learned that great preachers at that did call young men to follow them. It was such an honour to be singled out that they did leave all and follow.

God has asked me to leave all and follow Him. I pray that I may be as obedient.

Snowdrops

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The first sign of snowdrops in February is the first promise of spring. They seem so hardy to survive the severe weather we still have, especially up here in Cumbria. Mine have started to appear but they are so tiny. Each white flower is only millimetres from the earth. Does that mean they are more protected.? I pray that we, in our Christian lives may stay close to our Maker, so that we too, are more protected.

Blind Bartimaeus

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The rising dust was choking his throat as dozens of feet dashed past him. As he cried out the crowd told him to be quiet, they had come a long way to hear this itinerant preacher and they didn’t want a blind man upsetting their plans. Usually they had time for him but today he was just a nuisance.

How often does a blind Bartimaeus get in our way? We’re just leaving for church and a friend rings up desperately needing our help, as her husband has left her. After the sermon we want to congratulate the preacher when another friend is bursting to tell us her news, she is pregnant at long last.

A blind Bartimaeus always comes to us at the wrong time, but the right time from God’s point of view.

Philippians 4

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In his letter to the Philippians chapter 4, Paul is falling over himself as he writes. He is so overwhelmed by adoration of God that it all comes tumbling out. Rejoice, he tells us, but then he tells us again, rejoice. The Lord is near, don’t be anxious. So often Jesus gave the same message to his disciples, Don’t be afraid. My peace I give to you. Paul tells us to keep praying, there is no better way to be closer to God and be able to do His will. Time spent with God is so precious in this hurrying world. The God Paul tells us about is the God of peace; we can have the peace of God.

No wonder Paul writes with a such a quick quill pen!