Not in his own Strength

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We read in 1 Samuel 17 how David was going to overcome Goliath. He tells Saul he has tackled and killed a bear and lion and was therefore capable of slaying this uncircumcised Philistine. He wasn’t boasting in his own power and strength; he was boasting in the power of the Lord who rescued him.

We all have our own Goliaths. There are two ways to deal with the problem. We can use money, influential contacts, physical strength or guile. But there is only one sure way to prevail against our Goliaths. We need the ‘power of the Lord.’ Of ourselves we haven’t enough ability to overcome the ‘world and the devil.’ As the old chorus says, ‘Go in the strength of the Lord.’

Time will be no more

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I’m a bit of a time freak as I’m always looking at my watch or mobile phone to check the time. I’m so afraid of being late, I’ve even been known to arrive an hour early for an appointment.

But a time is coming when time will be no more. There won’t be sixty seconds in a minute, in fact there will be no more minutes or hours. Day and night will not exist and seasons will not appear ‘without fail.’ My mind can’t get round this. No train timetables (that might be a blessing!) and no beginnings or ends. In heaven there is no such thing as time. I can’t comprehend this concept; except I know that heaven is completely unknown and wonderfully wonderful.

Another Joke

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This is not an original joke.

Even in the middle of winter Josh would not shut the door when he left the room. One day his father in exasperation, but not wanting to cause a row, mildly asked. ‘Son, shut the door. Who was born in a stable?’ Quick as a flash Josh replied, Jesus!’

Gaps in the Clouds

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I always sit in the same chair for my morning devotion, looking out of the window up at the sky. I notice on overcast mornings there are tiny blue gaps in the grey clouds. It seems as if God is trying to get through the greyness of my wandering mind.

I have to confess that while praying my mind does wander and I think of everything except my God. These tiny blue pockets of blueness bring my mind back to why I am there. God pierces through my blanket of wayward thoughts and brings me back to Himself.

Not that One

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It seems that all the eight sons of Jessie were strong, and good-looking. Samuel thought that Eliab, Abinadab or Shammah were ideal king material. They had the looks. But as we know God looks at the heart. It would appear that only David had a heart attuned to God.

We only need to read the psalms to know that Samuel, following God’s leading, got it right. However fallible and sinful David was, he still had a heart towards God. When we read further about the exploits of this family we find that the brothers were unkind and mean towards David when he went to the battlefield. Maybe by this time they were jealous. It can’t be easy being the brother of a future king. but God doesn’t make mistakes.

In a Group

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On a recent coach journey, where I was fortunate enough to have a front seat, I was interested to note that each time a coach passed in the opposite direction, my driver raised his hand in acknowledgement. I realised they all belonged to a special group – coach drivers! They could understand each others highs and lows in a way only they could appreciate.

I’ve noticed similar groupings with railway station staff, tennis players and on a larger scale, football supporters, as well as many other groups. It seems to be a basic human need, to belong.

A significantly larger group are Christians. Wherever we are in the world we can relate to and understand our fellow Christians. I pray this group will greatly increase in size. Anyone can join.

Cloud of Fire

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Sadly, exiles are much in the news these days. The Israelites were in this state for forty years. They didn’t even know where the Promised Land was. We pray for Ukrainians won’t have forty weeks. The Israelites weren’t alone, God guided them with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. This seems to signify that they sometimes had to travel through the night. Can you imagine fractious children and old people who only wanted their quota of sleep.

It isn’t only the Israelites; we need our pillars today.

Your Rod and Staff they Comfort Me

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I used to struggle with the idea of a rod and staff being of comfort, as we read in the 23rd psalm.

The only rod I had known as I was growing up was a rod which was used to punish me when I was naughty (I think that was quite often and it was allowed in those days) A staff was probably something else I associated with punishment. How could they comfort me?

After some research I now know that the rod was used by shepherds to count the sheep as they passed under it and the staff was used to drive away wild animals. So I can now say ‘ Your rod and staff, they comfort me.’ Thanks be to God.

This Same Jesus

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At the time of the ascension of Jesus, the disciples were told in Acts 1:11 ‘this same Jesus who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.’

This was the same Jesus wo had lived among them for three years, the same Jesus who had taught them, performed miracles and opposed the Pharisees. This same Jesus turned the world up side down and whom thy had worshipped and betrayed.

As I pray and study the Bible each morning, this is the same Jesus who was in Galilee and Jerusalem. He is now in heaven and also on earth and is willing to comfort, guide and instruct me. ‘This same Jesus’. What a wonderful thought!