Carol’s Blog

The Last will be First

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Any good preacher will know if they can give an illustration to make their point, it is more likely to be remembered. Thinking of His many parables, Jesus was the greatest illustration-giver. In Matthew 20 we have the story of the labourers in the vineyard. Whether they had worked one hour or eleven they received the same wages.

The calling of my church is to help those who are homeless. My part in the team is to pray. The response has been so great that we are near a revival. Having been brought up in a Christian home and having accepted Jesus as my Saviour in my late teens, I am like the labourers who have worked for the eleven hours. During those ‘eleven hours’ I’ve had the privilege of knowing God’s comfort, guidance and love. Our homeless guests who are now flooding into our church haven’t known this comfort during their up-bringing. Now at their eleventh hour they are aware of God’s blessings into their lives. In their ‘one hour’ they are working hard for the Lord. They are taking part in various activities of the church – making tea, tidying up and other tasks. They are so happy to be completely accepted and part of the church and God’s blessings. You can see it in their eyes and lives.

In Matthew 9 we have the story of the labourers in the vineyard. Whether a man had worked one hour or eleven they all received the same wages.

The special calling of my church is to help those who are homeless. It used to be that I could physically help but now it is my role to prayer. We are witnessing a mini revival. Having been brought up in Christian home and giving my life to Jesus as an older teenager, I am like the labours who have given many hours of Christian service. During my ‘eleven house’ I’ve had the privelege pf knowing God’s comfort, guidance and love. Mine has been a life of blessing.

Our homeless guests who are flooding into our church have not known this blessing. Often their up-bringing has been tramatic , they have not know etability and security. Now at the eleventh hour they are open to God’s blessings in their lives.

Human, yet Divine

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We know throughout the Bible that God is divine, but when we meet Jesus in the New Testament we learn that He also became human.

We read in Mark 4 that He was tired. What a human reaction. We are often tired and weary but Jesus said ‘Come to me you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.’ Matthew 11:28 .’ Jesus was tempted by the devil in Matthew 4:6 ‘If You are the Son of God command that these stones become loaves of bread.’ A temptation to use His heavenly powers to satisfied a human need. Forty days fasting in the wilderness was a hungry business. On another occasion when Jesus was in the temple He saw His house of worship being used by shop keepers and those out to exploit the poor. He was humanly angry and overturned the table of money. On behalf of His heavenly Father He was outraged.

At His trial he was beaten and scourged, being the Son of God, didn’t stop Him from bleeding and great pain being inflicted on His body. When He was whipped and scourged, He bled. His feet were sore after much walking. He washed His disciples feet, but I wonder who washed His. They were human feet, dirty and sore. His discomfort was as bad as His disciples. After His resurrection he cooked His disciples breakfast on the beach. How wonderful that fish must have tasted!

Jesus was divine yet very human.

Storms

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With our weather becoming more unpredictable, we are getting used to having storms. I have a friend who because of her decreased mobility can’t go out in the windy weather. I now check the wind speed each day and notice the days she will have to stay indoors. I try to phone or visit.

When the winds do abate we seem to take extra notice of the calm and stillness. Maybe we would never appreciate the quiet days if we hadn’t had the boisterous ones. Our natures are so feeble that we don’t appreciate things until we lose them.

Storms in nature, storms in life, both will arise, but our spiritual upsets don’t have to be faced alone. The psalms are full of God’s assurances that He is always with us. If we could only take one book on our ‘Desert Island’ surely the Book of Psalms would be enough. We could meditate one psalm each day and five months would be filled with blessings. Then we could start again!

‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1. ‘Blessed are all who take refuge in Him,’ Ps 2:12. What a lovely word is ‘refuge.’ Maybe we don’t use it so much today, but our refuge in God is absolutely secure.

A New Body

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Oh dear, another part of my body not working well; another limb that needs medical intervention. The overall name for it is old age but I need to look at it with God’s eyes. I’m not going to need this body for ever, it has a limited ‘shelf life.’ God has a new one waiting for me and that will last for ever. My limited mind doesn’t completely understand or grasp it, my mind is so cluttered with this life.

I take hope from the scriptures 2 Corinthians 4:16 ‘So we do not lose heart, though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.’ I have these words on a piece of paper tucked inside my mobile phone case, maybe I should read them more often.

‘For this light moment any affliction is preparing us for an eternal glory for a life of glory beyond all comprehension, as we look at the things ‘not seen but to the things that are unseen.’ 2 Corinthians 4:17. In heaven I won’t have my bad leg, failing eyesight or irregular heartbeat and nor will you. Whatever your failing health problem is now, it will all be swept away.

Our troubles here are limited to 70, 80, 90 or even 100 years. What is that compared to eternity? It’s so wonderful that we can’t fully comprehend. Lord, we’re on our way.

Dim Lights

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A few weeks ago we had another storm which uprooted trees and brought down fences. Fortunately my property didn’t suffer any damage nor did my neighbours. The main problem for me was that a fine sand had blown onto all my windows causing the light to be obscured. I was glad when the window cleaners came to clean my windows, though they moaned that everyone’s windows were extra dirty.

It was a few weeks after that that I got round to cleaning my car windows. I found my shammy leather came away absolutely yellow. When I cleaned my lights I realised that they had been obscured as well. I had been driving round with severely dimmed head lights. Are the Christian lights of my life dimmed and ineffective by sin? Is my ‘light on a hill’ diminished by selfishness, pride and lethargy?

I’d better get out my spiritual cleaning rag, using the spirit of repentance and obedience. With the help of the Holy Spirit may I reach into the corners. of my soul.

‘You are the light of the world, city set on a hill cannot be hid. Matthew 5::14

My Prayer Chair

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I now have one and maybe you do too. It wasn’t my idea but it was a new idea to me. I gave it some thought, which chair should I use and where should it be. What purpose did I plan for it and where did I plan it to be. I became quite exited just thinking about it.

Firstly during warm weather it would be in the garden. I have a suitable table and chair which I can place in the sun or shade as I wish. But that is only for the summer months. For other times I chose one particular chair. It couldn’t be the armchair I use for watching television. Nor could it the one I sometimes had a rest in. The chosen chair was one which a friend had described as giving one a hug. I suppose it’s a smaller armchair than some and maybe her and my proportions are increasing. It is placed so that I can also look out at the garden which is so important to me. It will be used to commune and spend time with God. I might just sit and look at the flowers in the garden and birds and give thanks. I will have a suitable pen and Bible beside me; I might read a little or nothing. I might just sit and pray or not pray. There will be no set pattern or ‘must do’ things. No plans, no rules, only time spent with God.

A Candle

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I feel I am like a candle shining for God. Sometimes my light is firm and strong, other times it is just a flicker. When a door of trouble occurs I bend over sidewards in the draught. But as we read in Romans 8 ‘What shall separate us from the love Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword.’ Romans 8:15. As we read in verse 38 ‘I am convinced that neither life nor death, neither angels nor demons. neither present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God.’ verses 37-39 (Goodness, he does cover all bases)

I might flicker but by the grace of God I will never go out. We don’t have to depend on the strength of our tiny candle, God is keeping us glowing. It is not in our own strength. He is the maker of the sun and moon and the same power that He uses to keep them shining will keep us shining as well. Why are we worrying, He will keep us alight.

‘Jesus bids us shine with a clear, pure light,

In this world of darkest, burning in the night

In this world of darkness, so we must shine

You in your small corner and I in mine. Susan Warner

February

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‘Behold, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time for singing has come.’ Song of Solomon. 2:11-12

I don’t like February, yet we have this month each year. It is fortunate for me that it is the shortest one and now this year it is nearly over. But that feeling is wrong because it is the month when the plants and seeds are resting in the ground. The spring flowers are nearly ready to show their heads. Snowdrops are popping up everywhere. In my own small garden I have just four snowdrops in bloom, but when they are ready I’ll divide them and there will be more next year. Their delicate white heads are a real harbinger of spring.

Daffodils are appearing in the garden and parks and wayside verges. Last week I saw my first crocuses for this year. It is a time to be patient. I’ve filled my garden pots with winter pansies and primroses and only cover them with bubble wrap if the temperature gets below freezing.

The days are becoming longer and the hours of darkness are less. Each day there is something fresh to see. This is a time of anticipation and expectation. New hopes, new adventures, and new excitements. I must get to love the month of February. God has all the months in His master plan.

Active not Passive

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Being a Christian is not a passive activity. It is said that sin flourishes if good people do nothing. We need to resist the devil and deliberately oppose all that is wrong by doing good in the face of this evil. We should not be people who quietly sit in the pews., listening and agreeing. Life is a battle, let us go out and be active.

No longer are we a Christian country. It is in my lifetime that this has come about. When I was a child nearly everyone went to Sunday School; this is no longer the case. I wonder how much guilt we should feel for this state of affairs. The Bible tells us we are in a battle, we need to be properly kitted out and prepared. May we all be challenged to speak to one unbeliever this week about our faith. It is no good saying we are too shy or inarticulate. The Holy Spirit is by our side, He will give us the words. So every time we speak to someone, we can ask ourselves if this is the holy conversation we are meant to be having this week? Is this the person God wants us to share His Good News with?