Posts – Margie's Notes

Where is the Key?

A few days ago I thought I had lost my front door key.

I had been to spend the evening with a friend who lived about ten minutes walk away and, upon leaving the house and locking the door had slipped the key into my trouser pocket.

When it was time for me to leave my friend kindly gave me a lift home, but when I got to the front door I discovered that my key was not in my pocket. I searched my bag in case it was in there and also the left hand pocket of my trousers, but to no avail. Thinking that I may have left it at home I rang the doorbell hoping that my husband would hear and answer, but after three attempts and and calling his phone there was no response and I assumed he had fallen asleep.

By this time I was beginning to get a little panicky and considered calling my next door neighbour who had a spare key to my house. However, the lights were off and I did not wish to disturb her as it was quite late. After trying my door bell several more times I called my friend and asked her to check if the key was anywhere in her house. She did so, searching on the table, the settee where I had been sitting, including down the side and underneath… but it was not to be found. She drove back to see if she could help in any way and suggested I call my husband again.

Just as my finger went to the bell the upstairs curtains parted and the figure of my husband was sillhoueted at the window. I shouted up to him that I had lost my key and it wasn’t long before I was back indoors. The key was not hanging on its hook, confirming that it was indeed lost.

Feeling unsettled and frustrated I went to bed, and in the morning thought I would retrace my steps back to my friend’s house to see if the key had dropped anywhere along the way. I looked on the pavements, pathways, grass verges and gutters, but nowhere did I see the reassuring sight of my brass key with its distinctive red key fob. Rather sadly I went home again to have some breakfast, thinking there was no point in looking any longer. If it wasn’t anywhere in my friend’s house then I would have to accept that it was lost.

I put the kettle on and stood in the kitchen idly putting my hand in my back pockets while I waited. My fingers touched something hard with a familiar and comforting shape…it felt like… could it be…surely not… was it the missing key? Disbelievingly I pulled it out of my pocket and looked … yes it was!

Relief flooded over me and I reflected that it as so ironic that what I thought was lost was very close all the time; it was actually on my person, but in a different pocket where it hadn’t occurred to me to look. I think I had forgotten that there was a back pocket on that particular pair of trousers!

Then a further thought came and I knew that God was trying to teach me something. How often do I worry and struggle with issues when God has already provided the answer? It is so close, already near at hand, maybe in a Scripture verse or a song, that inner still small voice of the Holy Spirit, a word of wisdom that someone has given me.

I think that sometimes we are so conditioned to think in a particular way, through habit, routine or perhaps stubbornness, or we don’t fully access the resources God has given us. Maybe fear of fully surrendering or trusting Him and taking Him at His word? Or a reluctance to discipline ourselves to spend time in prayer and becoming familiar with scripture at a deeper level? I know this is an area where I need to be more focused.

What is your missing key?

What blockages or blinkers are preventing you from finding and grasping the truth of what God is saying, or what ‘pockets’ do you have which you have forgotten about or didn’t know were there?

It’s worth considering.

God is always willing to give us wisdom, and the missing key to our problems.

‘ If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ‘ James 1:5 (NIV)

So when you feel lost, confused and don’t know the answer, remember to ask, seek, and trust God to show you the missing key.

It could be nearer than you think…

Possibly even in your back pocket!

The Prayer Tree

A few days ago I had to collect some medication from the pharmacy of our local hospital. Thinking that it opened at 8.00 a.m I arrived at the Pharmacy only to find that it opened at 9.00, so I was an hour early!

My first thought was to head to the restaurant for a coffee and maybe some breakfast, but felt prompted as I passed the Faith and Belief Room to go in. Although I had passed this room many times, I had never been inside so I was curious to discover what it was like.

As I entered, I felt a wonderful sense of peace and wonder, and the beauty of it was arresting. God’s presence was almost tangible. There was a simple but beautiful display comprised of a rough wooden cross and Nativity figures of the shepherds worshipping the newborn baby Jesus, with a stained glass window of deep blue behind it. At one side was a small Christmas tree decorated with prayer cards written by people asking God for help and healing for loved ones who were ill, awaiting operations or medical procedures. Also on the tree were prayers of thanksgiving, thanking God for physical recoveries and successes either for themselves or others. One card simply said. ‘Thank you, God, for saving my life.’

*A simple prayer tree decorated with heart-felt prayers*

In this moment I felt the Holy Spirit touching me and found myself in tears as into my mind flashed a fresh realisation of how God had cared for me and my family over the past year. A year ago, my husband had been seriously ill in Intensive care and the prayers of many dear friends and family were instrumental, I believe, in his recovery. I believe God rescued him. I breathed a prayer of thanks for God’s goodness and also for His provision and care through the year for each of my children in their different circumstances.

Another God-thought came to me as I looked at the Prayer Tree. It was as if I was given a sudden download of hope for the world. We are in dark times and in our modern secular society it can seem as though few people have hope in God any more. Yet the little Prayer Tree with its simple but heartfelt prayers proved that this is not the case! I sensed God saying, ‘many people hope and trust in Me. Just look at these prayers! My light is shining in this dark world. I am the hope. Do not be discouraged! Shine your light to those around you, sharing the hope that you have in Me.’

I felt compelled to sit and soak in this moment, drinking in the simple yet profound truth portrayed by the Prayer Tree. I had sensed God’s pleasure in the prayers people had offered and the simplicity of it struck me. God does not need long complicated prayers, but rather He loves the ordinary, sometimes desperate prayers, which come from the heart of those who seek Him. Looking at the shepherd figures in sackcloth depicted in the Nativity display I was impacted by the truth that God revealed Himself first to humble shepherds, the lowest of the low in that society. Social class, position, education and worldly success are of no relevance in God’s kingdom. It is a humble and contrite heart which He requires and responds to.

At the other side of the Nativity display was another prayer tree, this one being more like a branch than a tree. On it were more prayers. As I looked at it I felt prompted to write a prayer offering to God the future for my family in the year ahead, thanking Him for His goodness in 2023 and looking forward with hope and expectation to His leading and guidance in 2024.

*I felt prompted to write a prayer offering the future to God*

As I wrote the prayer, the scripture Isaiah 43: 18-21 came to mind:

‘ Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. Behold, I am doing a new thing. Now it springs up: do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. ‘ Isaiah 43: 18-21 (NIV)

I chose to leave behind not the good memories of how God had been faithful to us, but the fears and anxieties of the past, and to take His hand and walk forward with Him.

A few moments later I left the Faith and Belief Room and walked a few yards along the corridor to the restaurant, where I had intended to go earlier. I noted with some amusement that it opened at 9.00, confirming that God really had wanted me to go into that beautiful room and spend some time in prayer. I still had half an hour before the Pharmacy opened, so I went into the restaurant and enjoyed some bacon and egg, still pondering over my encounter with God in the prayer room and thanking Him for the prompt to go in. I am so glad that I responded and didn’t walk past.

It is my intention to look for the treasures God has prepared for me each day as I go into the new year. Will you do the same?

Lessons from a Park Run

Photo from Unsplash

In April this year I did something I have never done before… I took part in a Park Run. My daughter, who participates regularly in this event was staying for the weekend and suggested that I go with her to a park about ten miles away where a Park Run was taking place. The arrangement was that she would run as usual while I would take the dog for a walk round the park and observe the proceedings with a view to taking part myself another week.

The thought of visiting somewhere different appealed to me, so I happily went with her on the Saturday, with Poppy the dog in tow. Poppy enjoyed the new smells and I enjoyed strolling around the park, which was a beautiful open space set surprisingly in the middle of an industrial estate.

I had been aware for a while that I needed to take more exercise and increase my level of fitness so I thought I would go the following week and sign up! There was a sense of excitement at trying something new and taking positive steps to improve my general health and sense of wellbeing. Aware that it would be quite easy to lose confidence and change my mind, I asked a friend if she would come with me. To my delight she agreed and we set off together the next Saturday, I wearing a track suit and trainers and my friend wearing jeans and a winter coat! As we parked the car and walked up to the starting area I experienced a feeling of nervousness mixed with excitement as I realised how committed many of the other participants were, dressed in serious sports attire and doing warm up exercises before the starting whistle blew.

I signed up, my friend explained that she was just coming to support me on this one occasion, we joined the runners lined up to start, and soon we were off.

The Run, or in our case the Walk, was a good and stimulating experience and certainly stretched us both. Afterwards we visited the cafe and enjoyed a well-earned coffee and toasted teacake. On the way home we reflected on how there were a number of aspects of our Park Run experience which had parallels to our Christian journey and walk with Jesus:

Take the first step

It was necessary to make the decision to take that initial step and get up on a Saturday morning, drive to the event and get started. It would have been easy to have put it off till the next week, or the next, or the one after that…

The idea to try this had initially come from my daughter Hannah, and I responded. Likewise, with the Christian message; If you have been told of God’s love for you and been introduced to the gospel message, or felt a prompt to respond to God’s call on your life, and to take that initial step of believing and accepting Jesus as your Saviour then I urge you not to put it off or wait till you feel like it or have more time. Do it today and trust Him to help, support and guide you on the journey.

There is support

One of the things that I found incredibly encouraging was the support given, both by other participants and the Park Run marshals. At intervals around the route there were friendly marshals who would give a smile, a wave and a word of encouragement… ‘You’re doing great… keep going… well done!’ For a first-timer like me it was reassuring to find that people were watching out for me and noticing my efforts, not comparing me to other, faster people. How much more will God encourage us as we walk this journey of faith. He will give us help if we ask him.

‘Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need ‘ (Hebrews 4:16 NIV)

Support came from two main sources; firstly, from the person who started us off, who gave clear instructions, explaining the route and how many laps were needed to complete the course. Secondly, from those doing the run with me. Watching others in their determination spurred me on to keep going myself. In particular I remember an elderly man with a stick and had obvious difficulty in walking, who was moving doggedly, persisting with his mission, despite his impediments. My friend who walked with me was an encouragement simply because she was there walking with me, chatting along the way. On other occasions I would walk with someone who had the same pace as myself and we would find out a bit about each other, sharing about our families, dogs, work and travels. This would often give me something to think about, a different way of looking at things, new ideas. things to try. I reflected that this is similar in our Christian walk; we need the fellowship and companionship of others to encourage us. God gave us each other. He never meant us to go it alone. We need to seek out and stay in relationship with fellow believers encouraging and praying for one another. A close spiritual friend and prayer partner is a wonderful gift and I have some very close and dear friends with whom I have shared and prayed over many years.

At the rear were two lovely ladies known as the Tail Walkers, whose job was to ensure everyone who wanted to complete the Run was able to do so and would not get left behind. There was no pressure to complete it in a set amount of time. Each person could take the time they needed. Our heavenly Father also supports us in our journey, walking behind us to give protection and encouragement and allowing us to go at our individual pace according to our needs.

For the Lord will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard. (Isaiah 52:12b NIV)

The Tailwalkers from time to time would warn us of potential dangers or hindrances…’ watch out for the low hanging branch ahead… the path is slippery just here, so go carefully… runners coming up on your right…’Likewise, God has given us the Holy Spirit to warn and advise us of things which might cause us to slip or stumble, or which might cause us harm. Let us heed the warnings. He wants us to keep going and complete the course!

Persevere!

Although the option is there to drop out, the intention should be to complete the race.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes upon Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith… (Hebrews 12: 1-2a NIV)

There will always be times when we get tired, discouraged and distracted, but it is at such times of difficulty that we need to ask others to pray for us and give us their support. in our Christian race we must keep our eyes on Jesus, spending time with Him in prayer and through the Bible. He will provide help and strength along the way. This may sometimes include stopping to rest.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. (Psalm 23:1-3 NIV)

Get rid of hindrances

The serious runners wore proper gear in the Park Run. I do not have much in the way of sports gear but I do have trainers and a track suit. After a couple of weeks my trainers were beginning to hurt and rub my feet so I found a different pair which were more comfortable.

What hindrances do we try to put up with in our Christian race which inhibit us? It might be worries, fears, lack of commitment, bad habits, persistent sins, unhelpful relationships or insufficient spiritual nourishment and support. If you can identify with any of these- and we all have something which keeps rearing its head to trip us up-I would encourage you to seek help from a spiritual leader or close Christian friend.

Aim for the finish line

When, after the three circuits of the park, we staggered up to the finish line amidst shouts of ‘Well done…you did it!’ and applause, the relief was huge! We achieved great satisfaction from having completed the run and achieving the goal.

Imagine how much more wonderful will be the Master’s voice saying ,’Well done, good and faithful servant!’

I want to finish my race and hear Him say that to me. In the Park Run my reward was the satisfaction of achievement plus tea and cake, but the heavenly reward will be something far more amazing which lasts for eternity, and the joy of honouring Jesus, my Saviour and Lord.

Keep going, my friend, and complete the course.

A Tree Planted By The Water

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. (Psalm 1: 1-3)

In 2023 we experienced the driest Spring and Summer in England for many years. In fact, on some days temperatures exceeded 40 degrees, which is unprecedented in this country. As a result, grass once green and lush was now an orangey brown and many ponds and streams had dried up. When I took my grandchildren to a local park it was unrecognizable as the beautiful place it once was, with dry earth and dead grass instead of the grassy slopes which had always characterized it.

Our local ‘dew pond’, which a few months ago had been full of water with ducks swimming there, was now completely empty, with only dry, cracked earth and no ducks.

We were officially experiencing drought, and there was concern about the future, with regard to food production and water shortages. Many are living in fear of our natural resources – which we have all taken for granted – running out. Towards the end of the summer we had a day of quite heavy rain, and it was so refreshing and uplifting to see areas of grass beginning to show green again. It reminded me of how dependent we are upon God for life-giving water.

Yet Psalm 1 tells us that those who set their hearts and minds on God, and who delight in Him, are resourced by the living water which flows from the heart of God. A constant supply of blessing which never runs dry. So what are these blessings which come to the ‘righteous person’?

Stability

‘Our leaves do not wither’. The leaves remain fresh and green, even in drought conditions. When trials and pressures come, although we may still be affected, we have hope, strength, peace and God-given wisdom. We will not collapse under the strain. A close friend of mine, who is suffering from Motor Neurone Disease, is a living testimony of this. Now living in a Nursing Home, despite her weakening physical condition she is at peace in her spirit, trusting God for the strength she needs each day. Rather than becoming consumed by fear she is resting in God’s love, and moreover is sharing her faith with other residents by holding a weekly ‘Songs of Praise’ meeting.

Prosperity

‘Whatever he does prospers’. This, I believe, means that if we are aligned with the will of God everything we do will come from our relationship with Him and we will find joy and fulfilment in it. Our lives will be purposeful and productive. We will be able to maintain focus and clear vision even when there is confusion and fear in the world around us. Psalm 37 expresses it thus: ‘The days of the blameless are known to the Lord, and their inheritance will endure forever. In times of disaster they will not wither, in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.’ (Psalm 37:18 &19 NIV)

Our needs will always be met, sometimes supernaturally, because we stay close to the Lord and listen to Him. I believe this also includes protection. Some friends of mine who travel to various places in the UK preaching, teaching and ministering, are a real example of this. They described how, on one occasion, they were due to travel to Bedfordshire to lead a Bible study but severe weather conditions meant that motorists were advised not to travel unless essential. There was a hurricane forecast. They prayed and asked the Lord to show them if they should cancel the meeting, but sensed He was telling them to travel as planned and to depend on Him for their safety. They made the journey unscathed, and shared later that debris was being blown all around their car, but not one object actually touched them. They declared that the safest place to be was in the will of God.

Fruitfulness

‘He is like a tree planted by the water which yields its fruit in season’.

We will show kindness and generosity to others, giving help and encouragement to those who need it. A true example of this was a dear friend, now passed away, who never failed to have time to listen to those with problems and needs and whose gift of hospitality meant that not a week went by without her welcoming folks into her home, whether to offer a listening ear, counsel and comfort to friends going through challenges, to welcome a newcomer into the area, looking after neighbours’ children or providing a meal for someone needing friendship and support.

We will hold fast to God’s Word and live by it, demonstrating honour and trustworthiness, truth and wisdom, in every situation acting with integrity. Our outliving of the love of God will provide a safe place to which others are drawn.

*We will bear good fruit even in times of difficult*y

How can we achieve this? How do we ‘delight in the Lord’?

Once we have accepted Him into our lives as Saviour and Lord we need to develop our relationship with Him, nurture it and allow it to grow. The phrase ‘dwell in His presence’ is often used, or ‘being in the secret place’ with Him. This requires commitment and many of us find it difficult, but really I feel it is like knowing Him as a friend, while maintaining an awareness of His awesomeness, power and holiness. Psalm 25: 14 says ‘The Lord confides in those who fear Him; he makes His covenant known to them. (NIV)How amazing that the Creator of the universe loves us as individuals and desires our friendship!

It is about placing Him at the centre of our lives and allowing everything we do to flow from our relationship with Him. I have expressed this in varying ways through the Reflections in this book but in summary I believe the necessary disciplines include the following:

Praising and worshipping God for who He is; acknowledging His greatness, holiness, majesty and power and maintaining an attitude of thankfulness and praise.

Reading and meditating on His Word, the Bible, so it becomes part of us, shaping our thoughts, words and actions.

Talking to Him in prayer and listening for His response, following through with what He tells us; bringing all our needs to Him, trusting Him in every situation as a faithful God who hears our prayers; giving thanks for His love and provision.

Keeping short accounts with God. Being quick to seek forgiveness when we have done wrong and also forgiving those who have hurt us.

Being ready to obey Him if we sense He is asking us to do something and trusting that He will equip us to do the task; not beating ourselves up if we fail, but coming to Him for forgiveness, renewed strength and encouragement to get up and try again. Be honest with Him about our struggles and fears.

Keeping in mind that we are in a spiritual battle with an enemy who wants to discourage us to the point of giving up, but believing that God has given us the victory through Christ Jesus; putting on our ‘spiritual armour’ (Ephesians 6: 11-18), and standing firm on the truths we believe.

Stay focused, always remembering that God has set a particular path unique to us, or ‘race’ as described in Hebrews 12:1. We are encouraged to run that race with patience and endurance, our goal being to complete the course and enter into the presence of Jesus to receive our heavenly reward.

If this seems like a tall order, or an impossible task, take heart! To reiterate the message in “The Good Steward” , we are not expected to do it on our own…that is impossible. But God is for, not against us. He is patient, loving and understanding. His Spirit is in us to help, guide, strengthen and encourage us. And Jesus is waiting at the finish line to welcome us.

Praise God! Let me encourage you to keep going on your journey of faith with Him.

This Reflection opened with Psalm 1. Similar thoughts are expressed in Psalm 92, with beautiful imagery, also of trees and plants:

The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, ‘The Lord is upright, He is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in Him’. (Psalm 92: 12-15: NIV)

Prayer

Father God,

I praise you for your love, your Word and your faithfulness. I want to be constantly resourced by your living water so I produce good fruit and stay fresh and green. Please help me to remain in your presence and be a living testimony to your goodness.

Amen

The Greatest Invitation

We love to receive invitations. There is something very special about being wanted and chosen to be included in an event. It means that someone values you and would like the pleasure of your company for a period of time, maybe a few hours, a day, or more.

But there is one invitation that surpasses any other, and that is the invitation of Jesus to you to spend, not just a few hours of days, but all of your life and into eternity in a wonderful relationship with Him.

On my office wall is a picture which always stirs my heart. It is called ‘Jesus, the Light of the World’ by William Holman Hunt. It depicts Jesus holding a lantern, standing outside a wooden door, knocking.

The Light of the World- William Holman Hunt

The door is surrounded by brambles and weeds and has a neglected feel about it. Indeed, one might wonder if there is anyone living there at all. Yet Jesus is patiently standing, waiting and knocking. How long has He been there? How long will He wait and what will be the outcome?

Revelation 3: 20 says, ‘Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come in and eat with him and he with me. ‘ (NIV)

As a child I used to accompany my mum when she collected money for a charity known as the Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen. This involved delivering envelopes to households in the local area and then calling to collect them a few days later, hopefully containing donations. It fascinated me to observe the varying responses from the different people. Some would answer but be abrupt in their response, even rude, while others would not answer at all, leaving us standing uncertainly for several minutes before turning away. The most pleasant responses were when the door was opened wide and we were greeted with a warm smile and an envelope containing a prepared donation. The person would wish us well and we would go on or way feeling blessed and encouraged.

Let us return to the picture. As I look at Jesus knocking on the door I wonder who is on the other side and how they will choose to respond. Will they ignore His knock altogether, will they take a long time to answer, coming to the door slowly and reluctantly, maybe with fear and suspicion? Will they be rude and abusive, ending with an outright rejection, or will their response be one of warmth, welcome and joyful acceptance?

Jesus promised that to those who open the door of their hearts and receive Him as Lord and Saviour there will be abundant life, both now and for eternity. He said, ‘I will come in and eat with him and he with me.‘ This is the beginning of a close personal relationship between Jesus and the person accepting Him, which will grow as they get to know Him. This is His amazing invitation to us.

Jesus offers us: Forgiveness and promise of eternal life, unconditional love, peace, hope, security, truth, purpose, help and strength with difficulties. Why would anyone decline this offer? It truly is the greatest invitation of all.

As I contemplated this I asked the Lord, ‘how do you feel when people don’t respond to your knocking?’ I sensed that His reply was, ‘I feel the pain and disappointment that you would feel if one of your children had left home and did not contact you or show any interest in relating to you. Think how you feel when you prepare their room and they do not come back, when you are disappointed again and again with no calls or messages, when you watch and wait but they do not come, or worse, if they were to say they wanted no more to do with you. That is how I feel. But I keep waiting and knocking, in the hope that one day they will respond and welcome me in. ‘

As the Lord said this I felt an ache in my heart, giving me a just a small sense of how His heart aches. He longs to come in and have fellowship with each of us, changing our lives with His unconditional love. In these days of fear and uncertainty with so many unsettling and frightening events happening in the world, there is no safer place to be than in a close relationship with Jesus.

How will you respond to Jesus’ knock? I encourage you with all my heart to take that step; accept His invitation to you by opening the door of your heart and inviting Him in. He will not force His way in; there is a handle only on the inside of the door.

You will never regret it. Jesus is the Light of the World, the Son of God. He loves you and died to save you.

Do not delay; accept His great invitation today.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

If you choose to ask Jesus in, here is a simple prayer to help you take this life-changing step:

Dear Lord Jesus,

I believe that you are the Son of God and that you died to save me. Please come into my life today and forgive me for all the wrong I have done. I want to start afresh and live my life in close relationship with you. Thank you Jesus.

Amen

Shoes fit for the purpose

It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; He enables me to stand on the heights.(Psalm 18: 32,33: NIV)

A Deer on a Mountain – photo by Marco Forno

Want to scale the heights?

This passage was one of my daily readings recently. After reading it, I prayed that God would lead and guide me along the path He has chosen for me, giving me the strength and ability to be faithful in the tasks He has entrusted me with and enabling me to reach the ‘heights’ necessary to fulfil my God-given destiny.

Pausing, I asked Him if there was anything He wanted to say or show me in response to my request. Expecting something warm and encouraging in response, I was a little taken aback to see Jesus holding out a pair of muddy, tatty old shoes to me, with a look of impatience as He turned as if to walk away.

He was holding out my comfortable old shoes

Time to change

I recognised the shoes as my favourite casual canvas shoes, very old and comfortable, which I use for walking locally. A little hesitantly I asked , ‘Lord, they’re my own old shoes…. what are you saying to me?’ As I waited and listened, I sensed that He was showing me that these shoes, although comfy and familiar, had to be replaced with stronger, more weather-proof ones if I wanted to be properly equipped for the journey ahead. If I was to ‘scale heights’ and travel along difficult terrain I must be prepared to let Him show me changes that had to be made in my thinking and attitudes.

Overcoming fear

In my spirit I knew that fear is something I need to overcome in many areas, particularly in the area of being afraid to confront or speak truth if it might ‘rock the boat’ or cause people to feel uncomfortable. Also being afraid to share the gospel for fear of what people might think. ‘Lord, I said ,’I’m sorry. Please help me to overcome my fears and have courage. I really want to travel with You and fulfil my destiny. I don’t want to miss out in any way because of fear. Please give me the right shoes.’ In reply, I sensed Him smile and say, ‘Good. Come on then. There is much to d0 and time is short.’

Forgiveness

After further prayer and waiting on Him I realised that there were people I needed to forgive, including myself, from past hurts and situations. I also needed to break agreement with the lie that I am insignificant and have nothing worthwhile to offer and that nothing I do or say will make any difference. The Lord also showed me that there were ways in which I had behaved towards others which it was necessary to confess and ask forgiveness for, not only to God, but to the people I had hurt. This was challenging and humbling, but with God’s help I was able to do it and the result was a sense of freedom and release. I know there is more to do, and I trust God to bring about opportunities in His timing for these conversations, believing He will give me the grace, humility and courage I will need to be obedient.

Dependence on God for strength

Since then, I have found that I have become a little bolder. I was given the courage to give out gospel tracts and speak with greater confidence and authority, hearing God’s voice more clearly, so I believe the change has begun, albeit with small steps. But I believe we must really want to break through and not settle for staying in our comfort zones. It is imperative that we depend totally on God for our strength, as it is all too easy to slip back into independent mode.

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control]. (2 Timothy 1: 7 – Amplified Bible)

The wonderful truth that , as children of God, we are no longer slaves to fear is beautifully expressed in the song ‘No Longer Slaves’ by Tasha Cobbs Leonard. In our ongoing battle we need to renew our minds by believing and declaring this truth, knowing in our spirit that ‘greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world'(1 John 4:4 )

Intimacy is the key

Photo by Ben White Intimacy with God in the secret place of prayer

The key, I believe, is to stay in close relationship with Him, spending time with Him in the ‘secret place’. If we make this a priority in our lives and share our thoughts with Him we will learn to hear what is on His heart as well. Through this will come revelation as He shines His light in every corner of our hearts, showing us areas where He needs to work and steps of obedience we need to take. It may be uncomfortable but He is totally for us, and as we learn to yield to Him we will experience deeper peace, hope and joy as we walk forward into the destiny He had planned for us.

The way ahead

If, like me, you desire to ‘scale the heights’ and fulfil the destiny God has planned for you, then I encourage you to spend time in that ‘secret place’. Just as He revealed to me the steps I needed to take – overcoming fear, forgiving others, repenting of wrong attitudes and mindsets and breaking agreement with the enemy’s lies – so He will also highlight to you the areas in your life which He wants to deal with. It is so wonderful to know that He is on our side and is ready and waiting to help us!

May God bless you in your journey with Him and may He provide you with shoes fit for the purpose!

Emmanuel- God with Us

Christmas is over for another year, yet before we take down the decorations and cards let us reflect briefly once again on the Nativity scene. We can all picture it. It is so familiar to us, with Mary, Joseph, shepherds, angels, wise men, animals, and of course baby Jesus in the manger. We can learn something from all the characters; their faith, trust, obedience and worship. But let us focus on the central character- Jesus Himself, whose birth over 2,000 years ago is the reason we celebrate this season.

For many people, Jesus as a baby is how they think of Him, not really seeing much beyond the Nativity story. But the glorious truth of the Christmas message is that Jesus is Emmanuel– God with us.

The Light of the World

The famous picture ‘The Light of the World’ by William Holman Hunt, depicts Jesus, not as a baby but as a man, standing at a door, holding a light, knocking, waiting for a response. He will not force His way in.

Jesus was God’s gift to us, the Light of the World, the fulfilment of prophecy, the Saviour, Messiah, Emmanuel, God with us. Through His life, death and resurrection He has made a way for us to be forgiven, reconciled with God and to have abundant, eternal life.

‘Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come in and eat with him and he with me. ‘ (Revelation 3:20 NIV)

A Life-changing Promise

This is such a wonderful promise! It is life-changing. If anyone responds to Jesus knocking on their heart’s door and welcomes Him in He will come in and have fellowship with them. To think that He loves us that much, uniquely, and when He resides in us He will make all things new. But there is a handle only on one side of the door. We have to actively open the door and receive Him.

In the picture there are weeds and brambles around the door. Probably inside also there is dust, dirt, mess and clutter, representing the sin, fears, confusion and lack of peace which have the upper hand in the lives of those who have not received Jesus. Many people feel that they have to get their mess sorted out and clean up their act before they can ask Jesus in, but He accepts us as we are. No one is worthy, yet from the moment we ask Him in, His presence is with us. As we spend time with Him, talking and sharing with Him, feeding on His word, He works in us and changes us – it becomes a partnership rather than us striving alone to get everything right.

What a change He makes!

He brings grace, forgiveness from sin and an assurance of eternity with Him.

He gives a promise that He will always be with us, loves us unconditionally and He is a perfect Father.

He gives purpose to our lives – and courage to pursue that purpose.

He brings hope, even in the darkest times. Nicky Gumbel in a commentary in The Bible in One Year says, ‘As we have studied the entire Bible throughout the year, we have seen that we should not expect an easy life. The Bible is true to real life. Life involves many struggles, trials, tests, temptations, difficulties and battles. Yet, in Christ you can be an overcomer, through God’s love ‘. I have some dear friends who have gone through and are currently going through struggles, challenges, traumas and disappointments of many kinds; loss, bereavement, unemployment, debilitating health issues, rejection, relationship breakdown and more, yet each one has testified to the transforming presence of Jesus in their lives, giving strength, comfort and hope.

Life involves many struggles, trials, tests, temptations, difficulties and battles. Yet, in Christ you can be an overcomer, through God’s love
Nicky Gumbel

He gives direction and encouragement when we are in a time of confusion and don’t know how to pray, whether for ourselves or someone else.

I recently watched a talk from Kris Vollaton of Bethel Church, sharing a word he had received from God about living by faith. He said that sometimes, those of us who have been Christians for many years can slip into discouragement over prayers which are apparently unanswered about people or situations which never seem to change. Sometimes to the extent that we have almost given up. The word was to keep going, keep asking, keep knocking, like the Parable of the persistent widow and the judge (Luke 18: 1-8). Keep believing, and He will give direction how to pray.

I have situations like that in my life and I know many others who do too. I will briefly share one situation. Someone very dear to me is currently going through a time of difficulty following a big disappointment which has led to fear, lack of confidence and uncertainty about the future. I have felt helpless, not knowing how to help or how to pray effectively. I brought the situation to the Lord and asked Him to show me how He saw it. He showed me a picture of Himself as the good shepherd, and I was walking beside Him. We were walking along a path in a valley. With one hand He was gently leading me and talking to me and with His other arm he was carrying a lamb, which I realised was my loved one. Although the path was quite winding and hilly in places, I could see that there was a way out and we were walking towards it. This gave me a great sense of peace, hope and comfort to know that Jesus knew and cared and my loved one was safe in His arms.

Jesus Stepped into our World

What a Saviour we have! The Son of God came down to our world, our mess, brokenness, dirt, clutter and lived like one of us. Just as we do, He experienced pain, fear, disappointment, poverty, rejection and even death. Yet He reached out to us, seeking us out personally and rescuing us.

As we transition into another year I really sense that God wants us to take the opportunity to share His love and the reality of God With Us to those who do not know Him. In this age of secularism let us pray that the light of Christ will break into the hearts of many who need to be rescued and have never considered Him before except as perhaps a picture of a baby on a Christmas card. Let us ask the Lord to give us a fresh encounter with the risen Lord Jesus and to show us ways, however small, that we can show His love and bring His light into the lives of those around us.

Invite Him in today

Jesus truly is the Light of the World. He came to save us. If you have never opened the door of your heart and asked Jesus to come into your life, I invite you to do so now by praying a simple prayer. I trust that you will experience true joy and peace as you grow in your relationship with Him.

God is with us. Hallelujah!

Be Ready

Recently I watched a TV report on the Australian bush fires which took place in late 2019. The horror of it struck me when a lady described how she and her family received a phone call informing them that they had ten minutes in which to leave their house and drive to safety, as the fires were coming dangerously close.

I tried to imagine how I would react if I were to receive such an urgent warning. I could picture the panic and terror as I rushed around in a frenzied attempt to gather together essential things and get everyone out and into the car. Unless I had had the forethought to have bags packed, ready and waiting by the door there would be a great risk of not making it to safety in time, as precious minutes and seconds would be lost. The consequences of such a delay would be too awful to contemplate.

Panic

Watching this report reminded me of a dream I had. I rarely remember dreams but this one was particularly vivid. In the dream I was due to travel to Sweden to visit my daughter, but on arrival at the airport I discovered to my horror that I had forgotten my passport. In fact, I have a dread of this happening every time I travel by air. That feeling of desperation at the thought of me or a member of my family not being allowed to board the flight strikes my heart with fear.

The Rapture

Yet one day, which could be close, an event will occur for which failure to be ready will be far more devastating than missing a flight. The consequences will have implications for our eternal destiny. The event to which I am referring is the Rapture of the Church. Jesus will call His Bride, the Church, to meet Him in the air and be with Him in Heaven. The Bible says this will happen in the twinkling of an eye. (1 Corinthians 15: 51, 52) (Matthew 24: 42- 44) All across the world people will disappear, and many will be left behind. Unlike the phone call giving a ten minute window for escape there will be no time to rush around getting ready. Our assurance for inclusion in this instantaneous exit needs to be secured in advance. No-one, not even Jesus, knows the day or the hour when He will call His Bride.

How can we be ready?

So, who will be taken? What are the qualifications? How can we ‘be ready’?

My answer may seem simplistic, but this is what I believe based on Bible study, trusted and reliable teaching, and the witness of the Holy Spirit in my heart. Simply put, I believe there are two requirements:

To have accepted Jesus as our Saviour, repenting of sin and receiving God’s forgiveness
To be in relationship with Jesus and seek to remain close to Him, allowing the Holy Spirit to change us

Salvation through Jesus is our ‘passport’.

We need to have repented of our sins and received Jesus Christ as our Saviour, believing that He died on the cross to pay the penalty for our wrong-doing. Living a good life, going to church, being baptised and doing good works will not qualify us without having received Jesus in our lives. This is the foundation of our faith and the platform upon which the rest of our lives is played out, after being ‘born again’. Rather than being a single event which we then forget about and resume our old ways, this decision to follow Jesus and receiving Him into our lives is the beginning of a journey of sanctification as we enter into a relationship with Him. A more in-depth consideration of this may be found in my post ‘Why do we need Jesus?’ .

Our Christian journey begins

The Christian journey is like a race Image by Capstone Events

Hebrews 12: 1-3 describes it this way: ‘Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. …..

Keep going

It is clear from this passage that in order to complete this journey successfully, discipline and perseverance are necessary. There will be times when it is not easy and we will be tempted to give up. Everyone’s journey will be unique, with different difficulties and challenges, but the goal will be the same for all of us – to complete the race and receive the eternal reward which is given to those who are faithful.

The Holy Spirit is our helper

Does this sound impossible? The good news is that we do not have to do this alone! God has given us the Holy Spirit to help us. Being filled and led by the Holy Spirit is the key, as we seek to live a life of obedience and surrender to God as our relationship with Him grows.

This is a life-long process, and as we learn to love Him more, He will show us areas in our lives which need to change. All our ‘works’ should flow from a close, intimate relationship with Him and there will be good fruit in our lives; fruit of the Spirit, which are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self- control. It is not so much a checklist of things we must achieve or attitudes we have to adopt, but a change which occurs over time as our relationship with Him grows. Evidence of this will be seen in a number of ways, which will include a quickness to forgive, repenting of wrong thoughts, actions or attitudes, care and concern for others, and seeking to honour God by working faithfully at the specific tasks He has prepared for us, using the skills and talents He has gifted us with.

Do we have to be perfect?

It is not a question of being perfect.. if that were the case then no-one would qualify. I believe it is about walking closely with Him and allowing Him to change us by His love, letting His Spirit work within us. God knows our weaknesses. He is a loving Father and if good earthly parents are patient with their children, providing support and encouragement at every stage of their growth and development, how much more will our Heavenly Father, who is perfect, do for us?

It could be very near

Although no-one can be certain when the Rapture will occur, we can be aware of the times and seasons we are in, and there is no doubt that we are living in a time of turmoil. The End Times is a large topic and it is not my intention to talk about it in detail here. Further information may be found at the end of the article.

Don’t delay

Those left behind at the Rapture will have to endure the most terrible times the world has ever known in a 7 year period of time known as the Tribulation. Of this, the second half, the Great Tribulation, will be the most intense. It will still be possible to repent, believe and receive Jesus during this time, and the Bible foretells that many will do so. But why wait and face the horrors of the Tribulation when the way to forgiveness, salvation and a right relationship with God are available to us now? God longs that everyone should come to Him in repentance and know Him and the way has been made open through Jesus.

Photo by Annie Spratt
Make sure you have your passport

When applying for a passport or getting one renewed, often there is a waiting period, and getting documentation for travel can be a stressful and anxious experience, heightened by the fear that it won’t be ready in time. But our passport to Heaven will be given to us the moment we make a decision to accept Jesus as Saviour and Lord and receive forgiveness for our sins. I would urge you to ask Him into your life today – do not delay. He longs for you to come to Him and receive His love and forgiveness. He does not want anyone to perish.

Our passport to Heaven will be given to us the moment we make a decision to accept Jesus as Saviour and Lord and receive forgiveness for our sins.

It is my hope and prayer that you will take this step of faith to ensure your eternal salvation.

Be ready.

Make sure you have your passport!

End Times

A prayer for salvation

Breakfast with Jesus

‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come in and eat with him and he with me.’ (Rev: 3:20 NIV)

I love spending time with a close friend or family member. Although it is lovely to have family gatherings or times with groups of friends, there is something very special about a one-to-one with someone you are close to. What I really enjoy is sitting in a café with a cup of coffee and slice of cake, having quality time with someone, particularly one of my children, who are now all adults.

During lockdown I have found plenty of things to do and have started new projects, this blog being one of them. At times I have been rather too busy and have found myself getting stressed, finding it hard to focus on one thing at a time and often not completing anything. My quiet times with God have also become another thing to fit in and at times have felt quite dry.

Then God stepped in: A book had been recommended to me, called ‘Encountering the God who heals’ by John Ryeland of the Christian Healing Mission. One chapter of this book begins with the scripture verse quoted at the beginning of this article – Revelation 3:20: ‘ If anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come in and eat with him and he with me.’ This verse says that Jesus has said He will eat with us – we will sit together, eat together, enjoy each other’s company; it will not be frantic and rushed, interrupted or cut short by having to dash off. This time with Him will feed us and sustain us through the day. It is, in essence, essential to experiencing His peace in our hearts and to receive His help and guidance in all our activities.

John Ryeland writes, “it is this sense of eating together that is what we miss out on. It sums up the quality of fellowship and friendship that describes what our relationship with Jesus should be like- it should be like eating with Him. This is what Jesus thinks is normal fellowship……. Fellowship is all about an ongoing relationship with Jesus – as close as Him eating with us.”

Fellowship is all about an ongoing relationship with Jesus – as close as Him eating with us.”
John Ryeland

The idea of ‘eating with Jesus’ really attracted me, so I put aside my various Bible study guides, set prayers and normal quiet time routines and simply ‘had breakfast with Jesus.’ I would eat my cereal then sit back with a cup of coffee and talk to Jesus. I would ask Him what He would like to say to me. Then I would listen for His answer, which could come in the form of a thought, a sense or impression, a picture, or a scripture. If there was something causing me concern I would tell Him about it and ask what He would like to say to me about it. I would write down the conversations and look back over them. After doing this for a few days I began to find it very real and releasing, finding that I had a greater awareness of His presence with me.

The joy and pleasure of sitting with Jesus is something we need to seek after daily, not only on certain occasions. We need to feed on Him, listen to Him, hear His words of love and encouragement to us. We need physical food regularly, not only when we need extra help or to get us through a difficult day. It is the same with our spiritual food.

We know how it feels to converse with someone who is always clock-watching or not really listening. Maybe we are guilty of this ourselves. Jesus wants us to savour every moment with Him, digesting every word He speaks. He wants us to commune with Him as a friend, sometimes speaking but also listening. He does not want us to rush in with a list of requests, but to simply be with Him, sharing our hearts and letting Him share His.

I have found that this gives me freedom from the ‘have-tos’ – I have to pray those set prayers, do that devotional, read those prescribed Bible passages, etc. Although Bible study aids and prepared materials are useful and the Holy Spirit can speak through them, I am discovering that just ‘eating with Jesus’ has brought a fresh life to my quiet times. I can really tune in to Him and what He has to say to me and the start of the day and I then sense His presence with me throughout the remainder of the day.

Let me encourage you to spend quality time with Him.

Eat breakfast with Jesus.

John Ryeland has produced some beautiful meditations which draw us into the presence of Jesus.

Christian Healing Mission

A Vase of Flowers

It is delightful to see a vase of flowers, hand -picked, carefully selected and lovingly arranged to create something of beauty, which brings peace, joy and a sense of well-being to those who see it. It brings a lovely touch to any room.

Recently my husband and I celebrated our Ruby Wedding Anniversary. Our children very thoughtfully planned a surprise tea party and presented us with a stunning bouquet as a gift. As I enjoyed the flowers over the next few days a thought formed in my mind: the flowers made me think of a family or group of people. Each flower is unique, a masterpiece. Although lovely on its own, when it is one of a bouquet it is part of an overall effect. The flowers together complement one another to create a specific presentation or image. The designer has a purpose in mind and knows just how to arrange them so that none overshadows another, so colours blend well or contrast effectively, so each flower can be seen to its best advantage.

God is the master Designer. Each member of a family is unique and has a specific purpose which no-one else can fulfil. He planned the gender and unique character of each one, and the position of each one in the family is no accident. However, I also have a sense that the family as a whole has a God-given purpose and destiny; the individual members, like flowers which make up a bouquet, complement one another to make a strong and united unit which God can use for His purposes.

Choosing names for our children can be exciting but also quite challenging as we consider our preferences and also the meanings. In the Bible, great importance and significance is given to names. There are many instances when an individual is given a name which reflects their God-given destiny. Peter is one example of this, when Jesus says in Matthew 16:18, “Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.” (New Living Translation) Jacob, in the Old Testament, was renamed Israel, which means ‘wrestles with God’. (Genesis 32:28) If the names of individuals carry such significance, could it also be that the family name bears a similar meaning? That is an interesting thought, but suffice it to say that God’s desire is for families to be united in love, supporting one another in serving Him together and encouraging each individual to pursue their unique gifting to fulfil the purpose He has for them.

Parents, pray for your children and help them discover their God-given gifts and talents. Do all you can to nurture and encourage them. Pray for them to know and love Jesus as their Saviour, teaching and encouraging them in the ways of the Lord.

Seek the Lord for what is on His heart for your family. Are there hindrances to family unity and love? Pray for healing of relationships and allow forgiveness to flow between you. Examine your own heart for anything which may be preventing God’s love and healing from flowing. Call out the God –given destiny for each person and the family as a whole, that God may be glorified.

A prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for placing me in a family and for each member of that family. I offer each one to you, that we may all know You and fulfil the plans and purposes you have for us. May our family bring You joy and delight as we love and serve you individually and together. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.