Carol’s Blog

Peter and the Transfiguration

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We read in Luke 9 that Jesus took three of His disciples up the mountain to pray. It was the usual three – Peter, James and John. The appearance of Jesus’s face changed and with Him stood Moses and Elijah, all appearing in glorious splendour. The disciples had been feeling groggy but when they came to themselves Peter, the impetuous one, blurted out, ‘It is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters, one for You, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ As the Bible explains, he didn’t know what he was saying.

We can understand Peter feeling as he did. He wanted this miraculous moment to last, as if putting up three shelters would prolong the visit! There must also have been times like that for us. When we have had a time of great blessing or spiritual experience, we want it to last. I remember many years ago where a time of worship had been so uplifting and other-worldly that when I came out of the building I couldn’t think why the world was going on in the same way. Shoppers were still shopping and traffic was still proceeding. I had had a taste of heaven but the world was just the same.

That’s the point, the world is still the same with its sin and problems. But we thank God that just sometimes, we have a glimpse of what life here on earth could be like. And what it will be like in the world to come.

Choose this Day

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Gideon told the people of Israel that they had two choices. They could chose the gods of the Amorites where they were now living or they could chose to worship the true living God. Joshua made it quite clear that his household would be serving the Lord God, Yayweh, No doubt, sadly, some of them did choose the ineffective Gods of the Amorites.

We too, have choices to make every day, some decisions are small as well as the large, life-changing ones. Do we pick up the rubbish lying on the ground even though we didn’t drop it? Do we make a phone call to give encouragement to a friend in distress even though we are too busy? When we see a person looking dejected in the street, do we break with British tradition and speak to them? Can we be bothered to buy a copy of the Big Issue?

The choices we make in small things will influence decisions in the larger ones. We will not be acting out of character. To pick up rubbish will lead to a better environment and may discourage further offences, the friend will be encouraged, the Big Issue seller will be able to afford a small snack.

The world will never know of our decisions, but we will and more importantly, so will God.

God’s Mighty Power

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To lose all your slaves, your entire army and your eldest sons was a crushing blow for any nation. Yet that is exactly what happened to Egypt in the time of Moses. Although we know the story so well, we can still marvel at the power of God. But it is so sad that before long the Israelites forget His mighty miracles. Are our memories as short?

Firstly there is our miracle of redemption. Even those of us living ‘good lives’ are still steeped in sin while we are apart from God. Our salvation didn’t just happen, it happened because God made the tremendous sacrifice by sending His son to die for us. Parents, imagine doing that willingly. It was because of His great love for us, sinners as we were. Then there was the miracle of our acceptance, which was by the will of God, not ours. And God didn’t just stop there, He has showered blessings on us ever since.

The parting of the Red Sea was a great miracle remembered throughout time, but our salvation is a greater miracle , remembered throughout eternity.

Aware

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We read in Luke 2 that Mary and Joseph took the infant Jesus to the temple to be consecrated as the law of the Lord had instructed. It was probably a busy, bustling place with people making sacrifices, offering prayers, asking for prayers as well as parents seeking consecration for their babies.

The prophet and widow, Anna was also there as she was daily, worshipping God. Because of her closeness to God she recognised this baby as being the ‘redeemer of Jerusalem.’ God immediately told her that this was the Saviour of the world. Distraction or inattention to God’s word would have made her miss this moment

How close are we to God? How often do we miss His opportunities because we are not focussed on Him? The clamour of this world is loud and insistent. It is easy to miss the still, small voice that God uses to get our attention. God speaks to our hearts, He doesn’t put up a banner to attract us. We need to listen. What blessings we could be missing unless we do. What joys we could be sharing by giving attention to heavenly matters.

What is God whispering today? What are we missing? May we turn our eyes to Him.

He Clothed Them

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‘The Lord made garments of skin for Adam and Eve and clothed them.’ Genesis 3:21

The first couple were banned from the Garden of Eden because of their sin. When Adam and Eve learned the difference between right and wrong, they also realised they were naked. The most terrible thing had happened, God’s first couple had sinned so badly that banishment was the only answer. Their future lives would be spent in painful toil. Today we are still suffering from that Fall.

But even on that day there was a glimmer of hope. God saw their nakedness and had compassion on them. In spite of everything He still loved them, His love was not broken. God knew the enormity of their actions and the suffering that mankind would have for millions and millions of years. He alone knew but He took the step of slaughtering some of His created animals to give them skins for clothes. The sacrifice of these animals seems to be a foretaste of the blood shed by Jesus.

How great was God’s love. The whole of creation for all time had been cursed, but God in His great love saw their nakedness and clothed them.

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My Neighbour

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How far should we go in our Christian hospitality? As so often happened Jesus made His point by telling a story. In Luke 14 we read the story of the Great Banquet. ‘A certain man’ had prepared a banquet and had invited all the usual guests. It seems that without exception every one of them made an excuse. They sounded reasonable but the host was still angry (verse 21)

The servants were instructed to spread the net wider and go out into the streets and alleys and invite the poor, crippled, blind and lame. But it seems there were still empty places. So the servants were again sent out into the roads and country lanes. The banquet room was now full.

This parable was also meant for us. Like the servants we need to go where our Master sends us. Guided by the Holy Spirit we need to share the Good News with everyone, not just the respectable. Our visitors will leave crumbs on the carpet, scuff the paintwork and slurp their tea. In church they will not know how to behave, talk through the prayers or pop out to the toilet (or a smoke) during the sermon. But what joy there will be in heaven and our lives when they learn to love the Lord! They will still drop crumbs on the carpet. It doesn’t matter.

The Resting Place

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I had bought a new bed. After the first night sleeping on it, I realised how very uncomfortable my old one had been. Although the mattress was thicker and higher than the previous one, I experienced a very comfortable night’s sleep.

That’s more than could be said for Jacob in Genesis 28:11 ‘Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep.’ No comfortable mattress and duvet for him. Maybe his discomfort caused him to dream, as he saw a stairway set up to heaven and angels ascending and descending on it. I love the children’s drawings where some angels are depicted up side down, obviously they are the ones descending!’

After hearing God’s promises to him Instead of saying ‘the Lord your God,.’ he could now say ‘the Lord my God. He also promised God a tenth of his wealth. This was a practice that started with Abram. Genesis 14:20 An action which is still practised by many Christians today. We can also pray for people who have learned to say ‘the Lord my God.’

Whether we sleep on a stone or comfortable bed we can all know the presence of God and the change it will bring to our lives.

With Passion

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My friend, Barry, loves running in marathons. Every Saturday he does shorter runs to build up his strength and stamina. Before the big race he eats the right amount of food, has the right amount of sleep and talks about nothing else. He is obsessed.

I have another friend (yes, I have a lot of friends) who knits for charity. It seems babies nowadays seldom wear knitted garments made by loving relatives, so she knits for charity which needs hats, mittens, gloves and scarves. This friend, Pauline, is always knitting wherever she is. At any meeting you can hear the click of her needles, on the phone when you ask her what she is doing, the answer is always, knitting. She is very obsessed with her useful hobby. I know of others who have an obsession like football, baking, gardening, fishing or sailing.

These are all good things, but what is our all-absorbing, time-consuming passion. May it be Christ. May all our thoughts be about Him. May we long to read more about Him in the Bible, listen avidly to sermons and mix with like-minded worshippers. Our closeness to God won’t happen by accident, we need to work on it, we need to practise our faith, We need to be passionate like the early disciples . Then our light will shine before men and we will want to know him more and more.

In a Queue

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It seemed like a simple problem; my newspaper hadn’t been delivered, so I phoned to chase it up. I found myself in a queue which I was told would be one honour and forty minutes Should I give up or hang on? Deciding to hang on rather than hung up, I waited. This then restricted what I could do . I couldn’t make other calls or go out or drive the car. Thank goodness phones are not fitted to the wall like they were when I was young. Nevertheless, my afternoon was quite unprofitable.

God doesn’t put us in a queue. He’s not like that. He knows immediately when we cry out to Him, ‘Lord, what shall I say to this person?’ Straight away I’m given the words. I pray for my friends and their circumstances. My God hears. I am about to make the wrong decisions, God is there. Scripture is full of of God’s promises. ‘When you call on me, I will answer.’ Psalm 91:15. ‘Before they call I will answer. Isaiah 65:24.

By the way I never did receive my newspaper.