My Garden

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I sit in the garden with my weed removal up-to-date. More dandelions will appear tomorrow but today I rest. A variety of birds are collecting their supper from my newly-mown lawns Others are chattering in the nearby leaf-sprouting trees. Yes, lawns in the plural, I have four but they are small.

School has finished and young voices shout ‘Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye.’ Do the repeated words mean they are still insecure at missing their friends? They need to be sure they will see them again tomorrow. I sit and revel in the moment. Once again I thank God that He has blessed me with a garden. It kept me going and gave me hope during lockdown.

Dawn Chorus

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How I love these spring mornings! I am lying in snugly in bed with my eyes shut tight; it is probably getting light but I cannot see. It’s about 5.15 as the first bird gives his tiny tweet, followed in song by all his mates, and we have our dawn chorus. Along with the birds I praise God. He is so good. Quite soon this first song dies away to be heard again a little later.

I must be honest. I’m back to sleep by then. 5.15 am is not my rising time. My further praising of God will have to wait until later.

The Empty Tomb

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Such a great event deserves to be remembered even after Easter. What does the empty tomb mean to me? Everything; His birth, life and death were momentous but needed His resurrection to complete His work here on earth.

Can I explain what it means to be a ‘new creature’ in Christ? For those with faith no explanation is needed, for those without faith no explanation is enough. Why did the disciples doubt when Jesus had told them that He would rise again? I wonder when God is talking to us today are we hearing and understanding?

He Was There

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I’m always amazed that how many times I read a passage from the Bible, I discovered something new or notice a different aspect. I re-read recently the story of Jacob sleeping in a place he later called Bethel and seeing angels ascending and descending on a ladder reaching up to heaven. This is a picture children love to hear as they can imagine the angels going up and down the ladder and even make models of the ladder and the angels. The descending angels are often depicted up-side-down.

I read this passage again but this time it seemed to have greater significance; in Genesis 28:13 God was was speaking from the top of the ladder. It stands to reason that He must have been there as He spoke. The angels and the ladder are important but the most important fact is that God was there speaking to Jacob.

Focussed

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Helen Howarth Lemmel was inspired to write the hymn ‘Turn your eyes on Jesus after reading a book by Lilias Trotter entitled ‘Focused’. In this book Lilias writes ‘Turn full your soul’s vision to Jesus and look and look at Him and a strange dimness will come over all that is apart from Him.’ Lilias was a talented artist who Ruskin admired. He contented that she couldn’t be a famous artist, for which she had the talent, and also follow her Christian work. After much prayer Lilias chose God and went to Algiers as a protestant missionary. Her work among the downtrodden woman of that country still has its effect today.

She could not have known that the words in her book ‘Focussed’ would be turned into a hymn which is so well-known today. It was used as the theme-song of the Keswick Convention in the Lake District in 1924. In an age where life is demanding and complex with many demands on our lives, we need the words more than ever ‘Turn your eyes upon Jesus.’

Target Fixation

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I’ve only just come across this phrase. It seems t be used mainly about driving. An individual becomes so focused on an object that they inadvertently increase their risk of colliding with it. The person loses sight of the bigger picture. The solution is to force your attention elsewhere.

Is it possible for us to treat sin in this way? All our concentration is focused on avoiding sin and when our minds are thus engaged, we find that sin multiplies. The answer is to stop looking at the sin and failings and to concentrate on God. Helen Howarth Lemmel put it so clearly when she wrote,

‘Turn your eyes on Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.’

Traditions

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Olivia watched her mother preparing the meal.

‘Mum, why do you always cut off the end of the joint before putting it in the oven?’ ‘My mother used to do it, so it must make the meat cook better.’

‘Grandma, why do you cut off the end of the joint before putting it in the oven?’ ‘My mother always used to do it.’

‘Great grandmother, why do you always cut off the end of the joint before putting it in the oven?’ ‘It’s the only way I can get it in my small baking tin.’

Do we treat our church traditions in the same way, sticking to what has always been done without knowing the reason why?

How Does It work?

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My car has just been serviced. It had been running smoothly but now it will be alright and safe for the future. I’ve no idea how it works; I just get in, turn the key and we’re ready to run My mechanic understands the workings of the car, I don’t need to. I trust him fully.

I don’t understand why the world is in the state it is. It’s beyond my comprehension why there are wars and killings. Why should there be refugees, families torn apart and senseless murders? It’s not my job to understand. Like I have a car mechanic, I have a Saviour. He and He alone knows the workings of this world. Not only does He understand; He is also in control.

My task is to get in the car (the Bible), turn on the engine (prayer), and drive (obey).

Who Am I?

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I often ask myself this question. Who am I? What use am I to anyone? Then I remember I’m the daughter of a King. I am worthy of the King of Kings dying for my sins. He died for you as well. You are worthy.

When Moses asked God, ‘Who am I?’ he was given the commission to lead a nation. Fortunately your and my command is far less daunting than that! But we are still called on to listen and obey. There are tasks that God wants us to do today; there are jobs for us tomorrow. Nations won’t flounder if we ignore God but the Kingdom of God will be poorer and our lives will be less worthy. If He knows the demise of a sparrow, He will certainly notice our reluctance. Who are we? We are ambassadors of the King of Kings. As Isaiah said, may we say ‘Here am I, send me.’

W

Hallelujah, He is Risen

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Easter Sunday has come. Christ is risen. As an advert for a certain sweet says ‘Now it all makes sense.’ The suffering and death of Jesus makes sense. Sin and death have been conquered; not just in our lives as Christians but for the whole world, for all time. That should make us of all men (and women) most happy.

Since that first Easter Sunday there has been hope, there has been purpose in life. No longer is the grave our destination. Our hearts sing and we are happy. But we so long for everyone to grasp the truth, to know the power of sins forgiven. Christians should sing and dance all day long, but then we remember our unbelieving family, friends and neighbours. We stop our singing and pause in our dance.

As we return from the mountain top into the valley and plains, we pray that the Lord may be able to use our testimony as we go about our daily lives, that others may see our hope and want it for themselves. That is our prayer this Easter Tuesday.