I will get to write something soon but why not pop over to the KJV Blogspot
I'm featured on Friday 16th and 23rd. But do read what everyone else writes
there is some really good spiritual food over there.
Have a blessed week.
Thursday, 15 October 2009
Monday, 27 July 2009
Faith as small as a mustard seed
The Lord has been speaking to me such a lot lately about 'faith'. I even bought myself a necklace that had been made to look like a mustard seed because the verse in Mark meant such a lot to me. I may write on some of the other things that the Lord has shown me regarding 'faith' but what I want to share today is -
I had been looking at some books at church that folk had donated and one that caught my eye was Ever Increasing Faith by Smith Wigglesworth. I put some coins into the pot and brought the book home.
The very first page quoted the verse in Mark 11:23,24 For verily I say unto you, that whosoever shall say unto this mountain, be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
As I read the verse and then began to read the chapter in Smith's book one word leapt out at me that I'd not really noticed before in the verse. 'Removed'.
Whenever I read about this passage it seemed to be saying 'faith can move mountains' and I'd always thought that was what it said but the actual King James reading says 'whosoever shall say unto this mountain, be thou removed ...
Smith Wigglesworth was a great man of faith, he prayed for many a sick person and they were healed, in faith he believed without question that God would answer his prayer. He took Jesus as his word. A short paragraph in his book says of the verse in Mark ... 'Jesus here uses the figure of a mountain. Why does He say a mountain? Because if faith can remove a mountain, it can remove anything. The plan of God is so marvellous that if you will only believe, all things are possible'.
The Lord has certainly opened my eyes to this truth - and the verse in Luke 17:6 tells it this way And the Lord said, if ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.
Plucked up by the root - removed - isn't our Lord wonderful to give us words like this to show us what even the smallest amount of faith can do. We need to grasp hold of what the word is saying to us so next time you pray for someone or something, remember these verses in Mark and Luke - I will.
I just want to finish with what Smith goes on to say at the end of the first chapter of his book.
I believe there are great many people who would be healed, but they are harboring things in their hearts that are as a blight. Let these things go. Forgive and the Lord will forgive you. There are many good people, people that mean well, but they have no power to do anything for God. There is just some little thing that came in their hearts years ago, and their faith has been paralyzed since. Bring everything to the light. God will sweep it all away if you will let Him. Let the precious blood of Christ cleanse from all sin. If you will but believe, God will meet you and bring into your lives the sunshine of His love.
I had been looking at some books at church that folk had donated and one that caught my eye was Ever Increasing Faith by Smith Wigglesworth. I put some coins into the pot and brought the book home.
The very first page quoted the verse in Mark 11:23,24 For verily I say unto you, that whosoever shall say unto this mountain, be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
As I read the verse and then began to read the chapter in Smith's book one word leapt out at me that I'd not really noticed before in the verse. 'Removed'.
Whenever I read about this passage it seemed to be saying 'faith can move mountains' and I'd always thought that was what it said but the actual King James reading says 'whosoever shall say unto this mountain, be thou removed ...
Smith Wigglesworth was a great man of faith, he prayed for many a sick person and they were healed, in faith he believed without question that God would answer his prayer. He took Jesus as his word. A short paragraph in his book says of the verse in Mark ... 'Jesus here uses the figure of a mountain. Why does He say a mountain? Because if faith can remove a mountain, it can remove anything. The plan of God is so marvellous that if you will only believe, all things are possible'.
The Lord has certainly opened my eyes to this truth - and the verse in Luke 17:6 tells it this way And the Lord said, if ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.
Plucked up by the root - removed - isn't our Lord wonderful to give us words like this to show us what even the smallest amount of faith can do. We need to grasp hold of what the word is saying to us so next time you pray for someone or something, remember these verses in Mark and Luke - I will.
I just want to finish with what Smith goes on to say at the end of the first chapter of his book.
I believe there are great many people who would be healed, but they are harboring things in their hearts that are as a blight. Let these things go. Forgive and the Lord will forgive you. There are many good people, people that mean well, but they have no power to do anything for God. There is just some little thing that came in their hearts years ago, and their faith has been paralyzed since. Bring everything to the light. God will sweep it all away if you will let Him. Let the precious blood of Christ cleanse from all sin. If you will but believe, God will meet you and bring into your lives the sunshine of His love.
Tuesday, 30 June 2009
Silver Fish
I had a really blessed day on Saturday and met a lovely lady called Norma. Norma has her own company in the jewellery quarter and makes silver fish. She is a Christian and she had come along to give us a demonstration of her silver work and her testimony and then we had the chance to make our own silver fish.
Everything Norma spoke on touched me and I found myself getting so emotional when she was telling us how she had started the business, the vision she had had for the silver fish company. I'll tell you more later but for now I'm rather tired so goodnight and God Bless, I am off to the land of nod. I'll let you have the web address to so you can see what she does.
Everything Norma spoke on touched me and I found myself getting so emotional when she was telling us how she had started the business, the vision she had had for the silver fish company. I'll tell you more later but for now I'm rather tired so goodnight and God Bless, I am off to the land of nod. I'll let you have the web address to so you can see what she does.
Thursday, 18 June 2009
Just a thought ...
To live without Jesus can be for life
But to die without Jesus will be forever
JHB
But to die without Jesus will be forever
JHB
Wednesday, 3 June 2009
How to Plant Your Garden
How To Plant Your Garden
First, you Come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses....
FOR THE GARDEN OF YOUR DAILY LIVING,
PLANT THREE ROWS OF PEAS:
1. Peace of mind
2. Peace of heart
3. Peace of soul
PLANT FOUR ROWS OF SQUASH:
1. Squash gossip
2. Squash indifference
3. Squash grumbling
4. Squash selfishness
PLANT FOUR ROWS OF LETTUCE:
1. Lettuce be faithful
2. Lettuce be kind
3. Lettuce be patient
4. Lettuce really love one another
NO GARDEN SHOULD BE WITHOUT TURNIPS:
1. Turnip for meetings
2. Turnip for service
3 Turnip to help one another
TO CONCLUDE OUR GARDEN WE MUST HAVE THYME:
1. Time for each other
2. Time for family
3. Time for friends
4. Time for prayer
WATER YOUR GARDEN FREELY WITH PATIENCE AND CULTIVATE WITH LOVE. THERE IS MUCH FRUIT IN YOUR GARDEN BECAUSE YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW.
I received this in an email from someone and it really blessed me. Time to put the idea into action me thinks.
First, you Come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses....
FOR THE GARDEN OF YOUR DAILY LIVING,
PLANT THREE ROWS OF PEAS:
1. Peace of mind
2. Peace of heart
3. Peace of soul
PLANT FOUR ROWS OF SQUASH:
1. Squash gossip
2. Squash indifference
3. Squash grumbling
4. Squash selfishness
PLANT FOUR ROWS OF LETTUCE:
1. Lettuce be faithful
2. Lettuce be kind
3. Lettuce be patient
4. Lettuce really love one another
NO GARDEN SHOULD BE WITHOUT TURNIPS:
1. Turnip for meetings
2. Turnip for service
3 Turnip to help one another
TO CONCLUDE OUR GARDEN WE MUST HAVE THYME:
1. Time for each other
2. Time for family
3. Time for friends
4. Time for prayer
WATER YOUR GARDEN FREELY WITH PATIENCE AND CULTIVATE WITH LOVE. THERE IS MUCH FRUIT IN YOUR GARDEN BECAUSE YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW.
I received this in an email from someone and it really blessed me. Time to put the idea into action me thinks.
Tuesday, 26 May 2009
I can see clearly now the leaves had gone!!
When I was out driving I passed a house that had a 'For Sale' sign outside and the words SOLD in big letters across it - I'd never noticed the house before. Further along the road I passed 2 more houses and realised I hadn't noticed these before either, although it was a road I had quite frequently used.
As I drove I realised the reason I hadn't seen these houses before was because I usually came along this road in the summer when the trees are in full leaf and the hedges and bushes are rich with foliage and the houses are hidden from view.
But now the trees had shed their leaves and I could see the houses very clearly through the branches.
In one short drive the Lord spoke to me so much ...
He showed me that we need the warmth of the summer months - but I want to spend my time outside in the sunshine. It just seems that when it's light and warm I can find lots of things to keep me busy, things that need doing or places that I'd like to go to and I spend less time with the Lord. Despite the fact that it is so light I see less of what He wants for me because I spend less time reading the word and less time talking with Him. My life becomes one of busyness, not fruitfulness.
In the winter months when it's cold and dark I don't want to go out much. I am content to stay at home, pottering around and I find I spend more time with the Lord, reading His word, talking with him and listening. Despite the dark months I see more of what he wants for me.
At times I also put a hedge up around me and I know that if the hedge is taken down again I can see where the Lord wants me to be.
Who would have thought that a drive, a 'For Sale' and SOLD sign would have such spiritual significance.
Thank you Lord.
As I drove I realised the reason I hadn't seen these houses before was because I usually came along this road in the summer when the trees are in full leaf and the hedges and bushes are rich with foliage and the houses are hidden from view.
But now the trees had shed their leaves and I could see the houses very clearly through the branches.
In one short drive the Lord spoke to me so much ...
He showed me that we need the warmth of the summer months - but I want to spend my time outside in the sunshine. It just seems that when it's light and warm I can find lots of things to keep me busy, things that need doing or places that I'd like to go to and I spend less time with the Lord. Despite the fact that it is so light I see less of what He wants for me because I spend less time reading the word and less time talking with Him. My life becomes one of busyness, not fruitfulness.
In the winter months when it's cold and dark I don't want to go out much. I am content to stay at home, pottering around and I find I spend more time with the Lord, reading His word, talking with him and listening. Despite the dark months I see more of what he wants for me.
At times I also put a hedge up around me and I know that if the hedge is taken down again I can see where the Lord wants me to be.
Who would have thought that a drive, a 'For Sale' and SOLD sign would have such spiritual significance.
Thank you Lord.
Saturday, 9 May 2009
Thank you Lord
Thank you Lord for the birth of my beautiful granddaughter - Olivia Erin 9lb 7oz born 10.19 pm yesterday.
Only picture I've got on computer at the moment but isn't she adorable. This was taken only a few minutes after her birth.
Monday, 4 May 2009
Oops
Oops, well, I did something wrong, maybe someone can tell me what I do if I write something and save it as a draft to amend later. I Did that with my last post 'I can see clearly now' but it has published the post underneath the Easter one because I'd typed it before that one and decided I'd publish it later. Maybe I was supposed to change the date somewhere. Any help would be appreciated.
Have a blessed day.
Have a blessed day.
Friday, 10 April 2009
He is not here
It must have been a devastating time for Jesus disciples when He was crucified. Those 3 days and nights, hidden away for fear of the Jews. I wonder how they must have felt when Mary came rushing in with the news that Jesus wasn't in the tomb. He had risen.
As we remember the Lord's death, till He comes; remember too those 3 days and nights when the grief, the heartache, the agony, the fear that the disciples went through was perhaps overwhelming them. How blessed then are we, who knew from the outset that Jesus death was cause for rejoicing. He died for our transgressions and rose that we might live. Hallelujah.
Have a blessed Easter.
Thursday, 2 April 2009
God Lives under the bed
I was so blessed last week to read 'God lives under the bed' at the following blog. http://meditationsandmemories.blogspot.com/ (just click on the link and scroll down the page a way to read it but it really is beautiful and you'll get to meet Kevin ...
After reading this I was able to go to work and share with a parent what I had read. His child had special needs, rather like Kevin. I gave a copy to him and to one of the teachers.
I read 'God lives under the bed' to our church last Sunday and told them that the Lord had shown me that no matter how old I am I still need to depend on Him as a child, to listen to Him as a child to trust Him as a child and to look to Him as a child.
The pastor photocopied what I'd read about Kevin and everyone had a copy.
I am sure the person who originally wrote 'God lives under the bed' will not mind that so many people are hearing about Kevin, and being blessed by his innocence and trust in God. I know I felt very humble to have read about him. I hope you take the time to click on the link and to read it.
After reading this I was able to go to work and share with a parent what I had read. His child had special needs, rather like Kevin. I gave a copy to him and to one of the teachers.
I read 'God lives under the bed' to our church last Sunday and told them that the Lord had shown me that no matter how old I am I still need to depend on Him as a child, to listen to Him as a child to trust Him as a child and to look to Him as a child.
The pastor photocopied what I'd read about Kevin and everyone had a copy.
I am sure the person who originally wrote 'God lives under the bed' will not mind that so many people are hearing about Kevin, and being blessed by his innocence and trust in God. I know I felt very humble to have read about him. I hope you take the time to click on the link and to read it.
Sunday, 29 March 2009
Alpha and Omega
This is a video clip from youtube . It is the Gaither band singing Alpha and Omega and it is well worth watching. Wonderful words - just one of those moments when a song fills your heart and you just want to praise the Lord.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ou7iI8_DyM8
The words of this song made me more aware of the many times when I can't see the way forward or I seem to be stuck in a certain spot that whilst I may only see the middle bit our awesome God sees the beginning and the end for he truly is the Alpha and Omega.
Have a blessed day.
Jean
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ou7iI8_DyM8
The words of this song made me more aware of the many times when I can't see the way forward or I seem to be stuck in a certain spot that whilst I may only see the middle bit our awesome God sees the beginning and the end for he truly is the Alpha and Omega.
Have a blessed day.
Jean
Sunday, 22 March 2009
Watching
The Lord challenged me several years after I'd become a Christian on this verse in Luke and to this day I am still WATCHING praise God ... This is what I wrote at the time.
Luke 12:37 - Blessed are those servants whom the Lord when He cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
I find these words in Luke such a challenge to me ...
WATCHING - it isn't just about watching - watching TV, watching the children, watching the grass grow ... ; it's everything connected with the watching - the questions associated with it.
Why am I watching?
What am I watching for?
Who am I watching for?
I can tell you who I'm watching for, the struggle I have is tied up with they WHY!
i
I could easily think, well what point is there in watching. I know I'm a sinner but I'm saved by God's grace, yes, but I look around and see people gong about their day to day business. I look at those who seem to get on in life by cheating, lying - they seem to have it made. A big house, flashy car, lots of nice clothes and holidays - sometimes twice a year to exotic places and I think WHY?
When I have to work all the hours God sends to make ends meet and there still doesn't seem to be enough left over so
WHY?
When I sometimes end up joining in with the laughter over a smutty joke
WHY?
when I try to start the day off right do I end up moaning and pulling people to bits
WHY?
when I get up and shout at the dog and get angry with my son for no reason
WHY?
When an occasional lie slips past my tongue or a hurtful word escapes my lips
WHY?
When I want someone to care about me and get fed up caring about others all the time
WHY?
when no matter how hard I try to say the right thing, the wrong thing always comes out
WHY? WHY? WHY do I bother 'watching' at all
WHY?
when part of me says Maranatha (Come Lord) does the other half say "Not yet Lord, I'm not ready" - and you know ... there's the WHY?
You see, I'm not ready, and I don't suppose I ever will be, but that's WHY Jesus loves me and that's WHY he continues to challenge me to 'WATCH':
Only in the WATCHING will I be aware that I'm waiting for Him to come to rapture the church - to catch us up to meet him in the air - and in the watching I'm also aware that if He returns and finds me doing something I shouldn't ... lying or laughing at the wrong sort of joke - if I'm in the middle of pulling someone to pieces or saying an unkind word - how would I feel ... to be face to face with the righteous judge, the one who died for me, and to know I wasn't watching ...
Watching my every word, even my feelings and thoughts - how would I feel.
I'd probably think 'leave me Lord, I'm not worthy' or even cry out 'Oh Lord forgive me, I really am sorry, please take me with you'.
The thing is, I'm not worthy - but HE IS and he will continue to shape me as I strive for perfection, as I try to be holy because He is holy, as I struggle against the flesh and struggle to be in the world yet not be of the world.
As I watch and listen to the Lord, I hear the words - NO COMPROMISE - it's then I know why I'm watching and who I'm watching for ...
The great and glorious appearing of my Lord and my Saviour and my God - Jesus Christ.
And what abot you - are you watching ... because the day is almost upon us - and we can cry as in Isaiah 21 "WATCHMEN, WHAT OF THE NIGHT"
Luke 12:37 - Blessed are those servants whom the Lord when He cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
I find these words in Luke such a challenge to me ...
WATCHING - it isn't just about watching - watching TV, watching the children, watching the grass grow ... ; it's everything connected with the watching - the questions associated with it.
Why am I watching?
What am I watching for?
Who am I watching for?
I can tell you who I'm watching for, the struggle I have is tied up with they WHY!
i
I could easily think, well what point is there in watching. I know I'm a sinner but I'm saved by God's grace, yes, but I look around and see people gong about their day to day business. I look at those who seem to get on in life by cheating, lying - they seem to have it made. A big house, flashy car, lots of nice clothes and holidays - sometimes twice a year to exotic places and I think WHY?
When I have to work all the hours God sends to make ends meet and there still doesn't seem to be enough left over so
WHY?
When I sometimes end up joining in with the laughter over a smutty joke
WHY?
when I try to start the day off right do I end up moaning and pulling people to bits
WHY?
when I get up and shout at the dog and get angry with my son for no reason
WHY?
When an occasional lie slips past my tongue or a hurtful word escapes my lips
WHY?
When I want someone to care about me and get fed up caring about others all the time
WHY?
when no matter how hard I try to say the right thing, the wrong thing always comes out
WHY? WHY? WHY do I bother 'watching' at all
WHY?
when part of me says Maranatha (Come Lord) does the other half say "Not yet Lord, I'm not ready" - and you know ... there's the WHY?
You see, I'm not ready, and I don't suppose I ever will be, but that's WHY Jesus loves me and that's WHY he continues to challenge me to 'WATCH':
Only in the WATCHING will I be aware that I'm waiting for Him to come to rapture the church - to catch us up to meet him in the air - and in the watching I'm also aware that if He returns and finds me doing something I shouldn't ... lying or laughing at the wrong sort of joke - if I'm in the middle of pulling someone to pieces or saying an unkind word - how would I feel ... to be face to face with the righteous judge, the one who died for me, and to know I wasn't watching ...
Watching my every word, even my feelings and thoughts - how would I feel.
I'd probably think 'leave me Lord, I'm not worthy' or even cry out 'Oh Lord forgive me, I really am sorry, please take me with you'.
The thing is, I'm not worthy - but HE IS and he will continue to shape me as I strive for perfection, as I try to be holy because He is holy, as I struggle against the flesh and struggle to be in the world yet not be of the world.
As I watch and listen to the Lord, I hear the words - NO COMPROMISE - it's then I know why I'm watching and who I'm watching for ...
The great and glorious appearing of my Lord and my Saviour and my God - Jesus Christ.
And what abot you - are you watching ... because the day is almost upon us - and we can cry as in Isaiah 21 "WATCHMEN, WHAT OF THE NIGHT"
Sunday, 15 March 2009
The Room
We were all in the room for fear of the Jews
When Mary came rushing in with the news
"I've seen the Lord" she said, "He's spoken to me"
Amazed, we wondered, could it really be!
And while we marvelled and thought on this
Jesus was here, he stood right in our midst.
Was he a ghost, thoughts rushed through our head,
Here was Jesus, but how, He was dead.
And the doors, we'd locked and barred them too
But then Jesus said "Peace be unto you",
He showed us his hands and even his side,
Our hearts were so glad and some of us cried
As again He said "Peace be unto you,
As my Father has sent me, even so I send you".
And He breathed upon us and simply said
"Receive the Holy Spirit" - Jesus wasn't dead.
Our Lord had arisen, things wouldn't be the same
And you can have life through Jesus name,
By believing Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God
And in believing live your life according to his word.
c.Jean Dodds/1993
When Mary came rushing in with the news
"I've seen the Lord" she said, "He's spoken to me"
Amazed, we wondered, could it really be!
And while we marvelled and thought on this
Jesus was here, he stood right in our midst.
Was he a ghost, thoughts rushed through our head,
Here was Jesus, but how, He was dead.
And the doors, we'd locked and barred them too
But then Jesus said "Peace be unto you",
He showed us his hands and even his side,
Our hearts were so glad and some of us cried
As again He said "Peace be unto you,
As my Father has sent me, even so I send you".
And He breathed upon us and simply said
"Receive the Holy Spirit" - Jesus wasn't dead.
Our Lord had arisen, things wouldn't be the same
And you can have life through Jesus name,
By believing Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God
And in believing live your life according to his word.
c.Jean Dodds/1993
Saturday, 14 March 2009
"Were You There"
I love writing poetry and when I first became a Christian I did write a lot of poems. I came across them again when I was going through some papers, I hope you don't mind me sharing them with you.
WERE YOU THERE
I was there when they crucified my Lord,
I was there and saw his crown of thorns.
I was there as they hammered in the nails,
I was there and saw his body racked with pain.
I was there when they crucified my Lord,
I was there and saw the sorrow in his eyes.
I was there when he called to His Father in heaven ,
I was there and saw the sorrow in his eyes.
I was there when he called to His Father in heaven ,
I was there when He asked that we be forgiven.
I was there when they crucified my Lord,
I was there and saw them pierce His side.
I was there when he died for me - it's true,
I was there at calvary - WERE YOU?
Saturday, 28 February 2009
Names of God
Jehovah Jireh - The Lord will provide
Jehovah Rohi - The Lord is my shepherd
Jehovah Tsidkenu - The Lord our righteousness
Jehovah Mekaddesh - The Lord who sanctifies
Jehovah Nissi - The Lord our banner
Jehovah Shammah - The Lord is present
Jehovah Sabaoth The Lord of armies
Jehovah Shalom the Lord our peace
What an awesome God we serve.
Jehovah Rohi - The Lord is my shepherd
Jehovah Tsidkenu - The Lord our righteousness
Jehovah Mekaddesh - The Lord who sanctifies
Jehovah Nissi - The Lord our banner
Jehovah Shammah - The Lord is present
Jehovah Sabaoth The Lord of armies
Jehovah Shalom the Lord our peace
What an awesome God we serve.
Saturday, 7 February 2009
I'd Rather Be a Door Keeper
2 King 5:1-16
Naaman was Captain of the Kings army, a great man, but he had leprosy. On hearing that a prophet in Israel could heal him Naaman was sent by the King of Syria to Israel to be cleansed of his leprosy. Naaman came and stood at Elisha's door and Elisha sent word to him that he ought to go and wash 7 times in Jordan and his flesh would be healed. Naaman was furious, he had expected Elisha to come out to him. Here he stood a great and honourable man - hadn't the Lord given deliverance to Syria by him and here was this prophet not even bothering to greet him, sending a mere servant to tell him to wash in Jordan. He thought Elisha could at least have come out and called on the name of the Lord, laid his hand over the place that the leprosy covered, but to wash in Jordan ... The rivers of Damascus were far better than those of Israel anyway, so why couldn't he wash in them - and Naaman turned and went off in a rage.
You know this got me thinking about pride and wondering if in any way I was a bit like Naaman do I expect to be treated differently do any of us expect to be treated differently. Do we know the Lord wants us to do something but we don't really want to do it as say "But Lord I'd rather do this such and such, for example ...
Look at Peter Lord, he stands at the front of the church and sings for you - that's a decent sort of job Lord, my voice isn't so bad, can't I sing for you, or ...
What about Mary, she leads that house-group with Andrew, people look up to her - can I do something like that Lord ...
And what about Martha, people have started asking her advice about things ...
And there's Paul over there, he even gets to lead the worship once a month and Lord you just want me to ... well help wash the dishes, giving out the hymn books would be better than that.
Can't I do something decent Lord, perhaps I could teach Lord, I'm sure I'd be good at it. Give me something where others can see I'm an OK sort of person - Lord I always seem to get the menial tasks.
Perhaps Naaman thought it was a bit beneath him to wash in the Jordan but as his servant pointed out to him "look if the prophet had asked you to do something really great you'd have gone and done it, why not do this thing that seems trivial to you -
God can even use what seems trivial for his glory.
So Naaman went and washed in the Jordan and was healed.
You know the Psalmist says it all in Psalm 84 "For one day in your courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a door keeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
Pride is a funny thing - we always seem to want what we think is best for us and yet no matter where the Lord places us - whether it's to be the cleaner not the preacher - the door keeper not the worship leader, the washer-upper not the housegroup leader ... if we continue to wait in the wings and never make centre stage our Lord knows what is best for us. He's given us whatever gifts we have and we ought to be content in using those gifts for His glory, not ours.
You know Elisha sought no reward for the help he'd given Naaman, he didn't wan't to be centre stage and we shouldn't seek to be noticed or seek the praise of others either.
The Lord has given each of us something special, something we can do that perhaps no else can, we are unique and he allows us to keep out individuality: but we are one in Him and whatever He has given us we should do it until the time mentioned in Ephesians 4:11-32
Ane he gave some apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; (and some cleaners; and some door keepers, and some washer uppers)
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: .....
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.
Naaman was Captain of the Kings army, a great man, but he had leprosy. On hearing that a prophet in Israel could heal him Naaman was sent by the King of Syria to Israel to be cleansed of his leprosy. Naaman came and stood at Elisha's door and Elisha sent word to him that he ought to go and wash 7 times in Jordan and his flesh would be healed. Naaman was furious, he had expected Elisha to come out to him. Here he stood a great and honourable man - hadn't the Lord given deliverance to Syria by him and here was this prophet not even bothering to greet him, sending a mere servant to tell him to wash in Jordan. He thought Elisha could at least have come out and called on the name of the Lord, laid his hand over the place that the leprosy covered, but to wash in Jordan ... The rivers of Damascus were far better than those of Israel anyway, so why couldn't he wash in them - and Naaman turned and went off in a rage.
You know this got me thinking about pride and wondering if in any way I was a bit like Naaman do I expect to be treated differently do any of us expect to be treated differently. Do we know the Lord wants us to do something but we don't really want to do it as say "But Lord I'd rather do this such and such, for example ...
Look at Peter Lord, he stands at the front of the church and sings for you - that's a decent sort of job Lord, my voice isn't so bad, can't I sing for you, or ...
What about Mary, she leads that house-group with Andrew, people look up to her - can I do something like that Lord ...
And what about Martha, people have started asking her advice about things ...
And there's Paul over there, he even gets to lead the worship once a month and Lord you just want me to ... well help wash the dishes, giving out the hymn books would be better than that.
Can't I do something decent Lord, perhaps I could teach Lord, I'm sure I'd be good at it. Give me something where others can see I'm an OK sort of person - Lord I always seem to get the menial tasks.
Perhaps Naaman thought it was a bit beneath him to wash in the Jordan but as his servant pointed out to him "look if the prophet had asked you to do something really great you'd have gone and done it, why not do this thing that seems trivial to you -
God can even use what seems trivial for his glory.
So Naaman went and washed in the Jordan and was healed.
You know the Psalmist says it all in Psalm 84 "For one day in your courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a door keeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
Pride is a funny thing - we always seem to want what we think is best for us and yet no matter where the Lord places us - whether it's to be the cleaner not the preacher - the door keeper not the worship leader, the washer-upper not the housegroup leader ... if we continue to wait in the wings and never make centre stage our Lord knows what is best for us. He's given us whatever gifts we have and we ought to be content in using those gifts for His glory, not ours.
You know Elisha sought no reward for the help he'd given Naaman, he didn't wan't to be centre stage and we shouldn't seek to be noticed or seek the praise of others either.
The Lord has given each of us something special, something we can do that perhaps no else can, we are unique and he allows us to keep out individuality: but we are one in Him and whatever He has given us we should do it until the time mentioned in Ephesians 4:11-32
Ane he gave some apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; (and some cleaners; and some door keepers, and some washer uppers)
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: .....
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.
Thursday, 5 February 2009
Praise the Lord
Several years ago when in Sunderland, I visited the little Hebron Gospel Mission I had been to as a child - when I was younger it was in the school hall. This was where, at the age of 12, I gave my heart to the Lord.
On this visit one of the preachers had brought a stone from his rockery and he spoke on Luke 19:40. I can't remember everything he said but the stone and the verse from Luke has stayed in my mind for a time such as this, when I believe the Lord is telling me that he still inhabits the praises of his people. In Ps 22:3 the verse reads "But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel"
When Jesus entered Jerusalem on the back of a colt his followers rejoiced and praised God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen. Some of the Pharisees told Jesus to rebuke the disciples but his answer was "I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out".
Just as the Lord inhabits the praises of Israel, I believe he is showing me that there is a reason for me to rejoice and praise Him for the mighty works he has done and continues to do.
Lord may I praise you more each day.
I was listening the other day to this song sung by Russ Taff, I was so blessed and my heart cried out in praise to the Lord http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNYw_lWwwA8
On this visit one of the preachers had brought a stone from his rockery and he spoke on Luke 19:40. I can't remember everything he said but the stone and the verse from Luke has stayed in my mind for a time such as this, when I believe the Lord is telling me that he still inhabits the praises of his people. In Ps 22:3 the verse reads "But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel"
When Jesus entered Jerusalem on the back of a colt his followers rejoiced and praised God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen. Some of the Pharisees told Jesus to rebuke the disciples but his answer was "I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out".
Just as the Lord inhabits the praises of Israel, I believe he is showing me that there is a reason for me to rejoice and praise Him for the mighty works he has done and continues to do.
Lord may I praise you more each day.
I was listening the other day to this song sung by Russ Taff, I was so blessed and my heart cried out in praise to the Lord http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNYw_lWwwA8
Tuesday, 3 February 2009
After the Wilderness - Holiness
"The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. (Isaiah 35:1)
The wilderness if often thought of as a barren, uninhabitable land, and rightly so if you consider the dryness there through the lack of rain. I always think of the wilderness as a huge beach with sand as far as the eye can see, and I know what it's like at the beach on a really hot sunny day. The sand becomes like small particles of glass beneath your feet and the heat can make it seem like you are walking on hot coals. It can be deadly when it's windy. The sand stings your face as it is whipped up and blown by the wind - but in the desert, deadly is the right word, for a sandstrom can suffocate both man and beast.
As a Christian I think of the wilderness as a place of testing. Jesus was led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devl (Matthew Ch. 4). Dealing with the devil would have been bad enough but perhaps Jesus had to deal with the elements too. The heat of the day, the sub-zero temperature of the night, and he hadn't eaten for 40 days and nights. I wonder - would you or I survive?
Reading Matthew got me thinking that we all go through our own wilderness experience, and maybe we feel totally on our own as we go through this time, but Jesus said "I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Heb 13:5).
As I thought of my own wilderness time I was reminded of a song by Michael Card, which says that when we are in the wilderness we are wondering for a way to understand, but there is no way - for the way's become a man.
The song goes on to say that God calls his sons and daughters to the wilderness, but that he gives grace sufficient to survive any test.
How true God's grace is sufficient - Jesus is with us, especially in our times of testing and temptation. 1 Cor. 10:13 says "There is no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear it!.
After being in such a barren, uninhabitable place read what Isaiah says about the final kingdom of God. (Isaiah 35)
The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.
It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.
Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.
Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold yur God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.
And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.
And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called the way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.
No lion shall be there, nor any ravious beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:
and the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
This passage of scripture is such an encouragement to me and reminds me that lives that have become dry and parched can be watered and made to grow again. I read that seeds can lie dormant in the desert for ages but even a small fall of rain is enough to help them burst into life, they grow and flower for a while but because of lack of water they soon wither and their seed lies dormant again.
It can be like that with us, we need constantly to go the water of life - Jesus said in John 4:14 "whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thrist ... We need to go to the very source that will help us to bud and grow and bear fruit. To Jesus himself who said "but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life". As we stay close to Jesus our lives, if dry at times, will I am sure, burst forth and blossom like the rose.
Verse 8 of Isaiah 35 makes me realise that there will be a highway out of the wilderness - a way of holiness where no unclean thing will pass.
God is preparing a way for us, not just out of the wilderness, but throughout every area of our life we surrender to him. Jesus will be with us, directing our way. We will come out of any wilderness experience with thankful hearts. This should cause us to put right the things in our lives that might hinder us from walking this highway of holiness.
If we go through troublesome times, and feel that we are on our own we must not forget that the Lord could be allowing us to experience the wilderness for such a time to come, for a time when we must draw ever closer to our Lord and Savour Jesus Christ.
Let us also encourage one another as Hebrews 10:25 says "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhoriting (encouraging) one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching".
The wilderness if often thought of as a barren, uninhabitable land, and rightly so if you consider the dryness there through the lack of rain. I always think of the wilderness as a huge beach with sand as far as the eye can see, and I know what it's like at the beach on a really hot sunny day. The sand becomes like small particles of glass beneath your feet and the heat can make it seem like you are walking on hot coals. It can be deadly when it's windy. The sand stings your face as it is whipped up and blown by the wind - but in the desert, deadly is the right word, for a sandstrom can suffocate both man and beast.
As a Christian I think of the wilderness as a place of testing. Jesus was led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devl (Matthew Ch. 4). Dealing with the devil would have been bad enough but perhaps Jesus had to deal with the elements too. The heat of the day, the sub-zero temperature of the night, and he hadn't eaten for 40 days and nights. I wonder - would you or I survive?
Reading Matthew got me thinking that we all go through our own wilderness experience, and maybe we feel totally on our own as we go through this time, but Jesus said "I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Heb 13:5).
As I thought of my own wilderness time I was reminded of a song by Michael Card, which says that when we are in the wilderness we are wondering for a way to understand, but there is no way - for the way's become a man.
The song goes on to say that God calls his sons and daughters to the wilderness, but that he gives grace sufficient to survive any test.
How true God's grace is sufficient - Jesus is with us, especially in our times of testing and temptation. 1 Cor. 10:13 says "There is no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear it!.
After being in such a barren, uninhabitable place read what Isaiah says about the final kingdom of God. (Isaiah 35)
The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.
It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.
Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.
Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold yur God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.
And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.
And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called the way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.
No lion shall be there, nor any ravious beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:
and the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
This passage of scripture is such an encouragement to me and reminds me that lives that have become dry and parched can be watered and made to grow again. I read that seeds can lie dormant in the desert for ages but even a small fall of rain is enough to help them burst into life, they grow and flower for a while but because of lack of water they soon wither and their seed lies dormant again.
It can be like that with us, we need constantly to go the water of life - Jesus said in John 4:14 "whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thrist ... We need to go to the very source that will help us to bud and grow and bear fruit. To Jesus himself who said "but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life". As we stay close to Jesus our lives, if dry at times, will I am sure, burst forth and blossom like the rose.
Verse 8 of Isaiah 35 makes me realise that there will be a highway out of the wilderness - a way of holiness where no unclean thing will pass.
God is preparing a way for us, not just out of the wilderness, but throughout every area of our life we surrender to him. Jesus will be with us, directing our way. We will come out of any wilderness experience with thankful hearts. This should cause us to put right the things in our lives that might hinder us from walking this highway of holiness.
If we go through troublesome times, and feel that we are on our own we must not forget that the Lord could be allowing us to experience the wilderness for such a time to come, for a time when we must draw ever closer to our Lord and Savour Jesus Christ.
Let us also encourage one another as Hebrews 10:25 says "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhoriting (encouraging) one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching".
Saturday, 17 January 2009
The Light Of The World - Jesus
Titus 2:13
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.
I don't know if anyone ever reads any of my blogs but I enjoy writing them and so I thought I'd write about something that happened when I went up to visit my mam back in October last year - this is what I wrote in my notes:-
Sunday 26th October 2008
On the last leg of my journey going to visit mam, I was listening to 'Immanuel' by Michael Card. As he sang "All those who stumble in the darkness, behold your light has come" I saw the most beautiful sky, there was a light that just seemed to radiate into the night sky and was a luminous yellowy white. It was all I could do to stop myself looking at the light which was to the left of me and I had to force myself to keep looking at the road ahead but it gave me food for thought. This brilliant light reminded me of Jesus, 'the light of the world and how we look for his glorious appearing.
When I set off on my trip up home I had been praying that the Lord would show me something that would be an encouragement, and that was just what he did. Seeing that light lifted me and just helped me to see that Jesus is the light of the world and we were drawn to the light when we decided to follow him. To be like our Saviour we too must be a light in the darkness and show others the light of his love. There seems to be such doom and gloom around at the moment, the credit crunch has got people worried and seems to make some feel despondent. I listened to a sermon by David Wilkerson just after I'd got back home and he said something similar - that in the world it might be all doom and gloom but there is always a smile in the house of God.
Our God is with us, so who could stand against us. We have nothing to fear in these times and our God will supply all our needs. Just as the light I saw in the sky drew me, and I kept wanting to look at it, may people look at us and see a glimpse of Jesus.
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.
I don't know if anyone ever reads any of my blogs but I enjoy writing them and so I thought I'd write about something that happened when I went up to visit my mam back in October last year - this is what I wrote in my notes:-
Sunday 26th October 2008
On the last leg of my journey going to visit mam, I was listening to 'Immanuel' by Michael Card. As he sang "All those who stumble in the darkness, behold your light has come" I saw the most beautiful sky, there was a light that just seemed to radiate into the night sky and was a luminous yellowy white. It was all I could do to stop myself looking at the light which was to the left of me and I had to force myself to keep looking at the road ahead but it gave me food for thought. This brilliant light reminded me of Jesus, 'the light of the world and how we look for his glorious appearing.
When I set off on my trip up home I had been praying that the Lord would show me something that would be an encouragement, and that was just what he did. Seeing that light lifted me and just helped me to see that Jesus is the light of the world and we were drawn to the light when we decided to follow him. To be like our Saviour we too must be a light in the darkness and show others the light of his love. There seems to be such doom and gloom around at the moment, the credit crunch has got people worried and seems to make some feel despondent. I listened to a sermon by David Wilkerson just after I'd got back home and he said something similar - that in the world it might be all doom and gloom but there is always a smile in the house of God.
Our God is with us, so who could stand against us. We have nothing to fear in these times and our God will supply all our needs. Just as the light I saw in the sky drew me, and I kept wanting to look at it, may people look at us and see a glimpse of Jesus.
Saturday, 3 January 2009
In 2009 - May God
My friend Von sent me a text on new years day that I would like to share with you for 2009 -
May God remember you like Noah
Favour you like Moses
Honour you like Mary
Fight for you like the Israelites
Prosper you like Isaac
Promote you like Joseph
Intervene for you like Esther
Protect you like Daniel
Use you like Paul
Heal you like Naaman
Answer you like Elijah
Anoint you like David
Keep you safe like Shadrach.
I've put this hymn on my daily page but thought I'd share it on this one too (I then shall live - Ernie Hass and The Gaithers)
May God remember you like Noah
Favour you like Moses
Honour you like Mary
Fight for you like the Israelites
Prosper you like Isaac
Promote you like Joseph
Intervene for you like Esther
Protect you like Daniel
Use you like Paul
Heal you like Naaman
Answer you like Elijah
Anoint you like David
Keep you safe like Shadrach.
I've put this hymn on my daily page but thought I'd share it on this one too (I then shall live - Ernie Hass and The Gaithers)
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