Carol’s Blog

Joseph

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“In all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purposes.” Romans 8:28

The Bible is so amazing. It is littered with stories of people who are as flawed as we are. Jacob is a fine example of this; he really needed to go on a parenting course. How unwise he was to favour one son over the others. It was never going to help Joseph in the popularity stakes. The same principle applies today; spoiling a child is not love, it is a form of unkindness. It will not equip them for life when they go out into the world

Joseph is sent to his brothers who are tending their sheep with murderous intent in their hearts. Here God steps into the scene. Reuben has been placed into the picture and suggests abandonment rather than murder. ‘Shed no blood,’ he pleads. The Bible gives a careful account of the pit into which Joseph was dumped, an empty pit with no water in it. At least our ‘hero’ will not drown!

This part of Joseph’s life is only the beginning of his adventures and misadventures. Sold into slavery, elevation, prison, elevation again, then the saving of the nation of Israel from starvation. As our text tells us, through it all ‘In all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purposes.’

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Restored

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“I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten ….. you will praise the name of the Lord your God, who has worked wonders for you.’ Joel 2:25-26

I wonder if, like me, you have regrets about the past; sorrow for things you have done or omitted, sadness for missed opportunities and wrong paths taken. But what is done is done and the past is past. There is nothing we can do about it, only learn from our mistakes and make restitution with people if this is possible.

This text tells us that God will restore the years we have lost and there is no point in keep going back over the past. God can even lead us to a place where we will give thanks for the times in the past where we have failed. The wrongs done and received can be a springboard into a more God-fulled life. Then, we will indeed be able to praise God and allow Him to work wonders through us.

Constant Prayer

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‘Pray in the Spirit at all occasions with all types of prayer and requests.’ Ephesians 6:18

It is not the practice of my church to use the Book of Common Prayer but when I take time to look through it and pray the prayers I receive great blessings. These are prayers which were written centuries ago and which have been honed and improved during that time. They have been prayed by so many faithful saints through all that time. What a precious book it is.

By contrast i sometimes need to shoot ‘arrow prayers’ up to heaven. They are not well formed or composed, they are just urgent. A certain situation occurs and I need swiftly to cry out to God. ‘Lord, help me now, this instant,’ or ‘here is an opening to witness about You. What do I say?’ When we pray in church we are praying collectively. Our prayers led by the preacher are sent to God as a group. Other times we pray quietly in the solitude of our own homes.

Long or short, alone or with others, the important thing is that we do pray. God has given us this wonderful means of communication, a means of speaking directly to our Heavenly Father. God loves us and wants to hear from us, He wants to talk with us. Just as with our earthly friends we need to keep in touch, how much more do we need to speak with our Heavenly Friend.

God’s Glory

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‘Praise Him for His acts of power, praise Him for His surpassing greatness.’ Psalm 150;2

As I drive towards my city, on the horizon ahead of me I can see the hills of the north Pennines. On another route into the city I can see the outline of the hills of southern Scotland. A few miles down the road the mountains and hills of the Lake District are in sight. Magnificent, massive structures which, if He wished, God could remove into the sea. What a powerful God we have!

This same creator is the same creator of the small daisies in my lawn with their white and yellow faces, small flecks of colour in my otherwise dull and drab garden. I marvel at a God so mighty and yet so intimate and tender. Why should i ever fear when such a strong God is in control of the world and also my tiny life?

Such a powerful God is in complete control of everything. He will not let me down, I only need to trust.

Exercise

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Exercise seems to be the buzz word these days. It is possible to get apps on our phone or programmes on the television or even visit a gym. Many books are being published on the subject. I think it is an excellent idea and my favourite method of exercising is through the television. I marvel as the tutor explains and demonstrates the moves which exercise various parts of our body. I can choose which parts need the most workout. Then life gets in the way and I miss a few days and then a few weeks. The small amount I exercise on a few days does me no good at all.

Does this describe my spiritual exercise as well? Do I communicate with God on a couple of days and then get too busy and forget? The Bible is a wonderful source of help and guidance but how much do I read it? My exercise with God needs daily renewing. We read in the Bible that Jesus left His friends to pray in a quiet place and at other times He took His friends with Him. If Jesus needed this communication with His Father, how much more do we!

News of my Garden

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Those of you who have followed me for years will know that at my previous house I had a garden which I completely loved and which received many compliments. I now have a garden which was completely dead when i took it over. In the centre was a scrubby lawn surrounded by a pathway of small stones, about six inches deep. When I arrived last September, no bees or insects visited, there was nothing for them. Since then, with help, we have cleared a section about two yards long and afoot or so wide. I then planted with good compost the plants I had brought with me from the previous garden. On top of that I put a layer of bark. Most of the work was done by my gardener, but I was able to help a little.

I filled a few pots with winter pansies and plant 100 daffodil bulbs. (WEll, I planted 10 and the gardener plant the other 90. I still have no bees or insects, probably the wrong time of year for them to visit. The daffodils are just showing their slender stalks. The other things I planted are probably going to survive although we have had some severe frosts. I have cut off the dead heads on the existing hydrangea bush and just looked at the small fuchsia bush. I can’t do much about global warming, but I long for my little garden to be bursting with life and be a thank offering to God for all His mercies to me.

A Better World

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I felt burdened by the trials of this world. Trouble and destruction seemed to be all around me ; the world was in a sorry state. To read the news in the papers was depressing, to watch the news on the television even more so. In my own personal life there was conflict and tension. I yearned for something better, something that would give more contentment.

Then I read Ezekiel 47 and my spirits rose . There is a better life coming. ‘Wherever the river goes ……. there will be very many fish.’ verse 9 . ‘On the banks on both sides of the river there will grow all kinds of trees for food.’ verse 12.’ ‘The fruit will be for food and the leaves for healing.’ verse 12.

What a wonderful picture of heaven, what a promise of things to come. In the midst of my angst I yearned to be in that beautiful place and away from the world of conflict and strife. Although not in a war-zone myself, I yearned for a place which was not a barren war-torn land, but a place of plenty. There will eventually be a return to life as God has planned it to be. I give praise for this promise.

Chinese New Year

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The people of China have just celebrated their New Year, this time it is the Year of the Dragon. The celebrations are one of the grandest and most joyful ancient festivals in China. Today the Christian church in China is estimated to have about 50 million believers which is only about 3-7% of the population, making it a minority group.

Lord,

We pray for the people in the churches of China, persecuted and oppressed. Give them hope and strength in the dark and desperate times and we pray for more Chinese people to come to know You.

Amen

Instant Obedience

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When God wants us to something now, He wants us to do it instantly.

A few years back I had been to a match following one of my favourite players. At that time he was ranked number one in the world and today is still at the top of his sport. As I entered the station to catch a train to London, I saw this man in front of me with his mate, probably his body guard. In my mind I fantisized, ‘Wouldn’t it be wonderful if I could speak to him about the Lord.’ ‘Go on, then.’ God said. ‘Lord, I didn’t mean it, I was only dreaming.’ As the approaching train what was probably the last set of signals, prompted by the Holy Spirit, I approached the couple.

‘I enjoyed your match last night.’ A feeble approach, but at least I’d started. ‘Oh, Lord, what do I say next?’ ‘Do you find in spite of your fame, you still get lonely?’ That promoted a response. ‘Yes, I do.’ ‘Lord, help. I’m only an insignificant spectator. this man is known world-wide. What now?’ ‘There is an answer to your loneliness.’ And for the next how ever many seconds I told him about the Lord. I know he must have heard from many others before me, but this was God’s instruction for me on that day.

As the train puffed it’s way into the station, we exchanged a few sentences, then this very famous man said, ‘Are you travelling first class?’I reluctantly admitted that i wasn’t and the brief exchange was over. I still can’t believe that this happened, but it did. I haven’t heard that this man has become a Christian, though he is still in the public eye. Maybe it wasn’t about him, but was about my obedience.

Do It Now.

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As a child I would put things off. Anything that could be done the next day or next week, I would leave undone. My mother was so exasperated with me that she would repeatedly cry ‘Do it now.’ As a sometimes obedient child I took this to heart. I found a lovely piece of card and printed on it in bold letters ‘DO IT NOW, I then coloured it in with bright paints and hung it up in my bedroom. Did I act on the words, No, but it looked hanging there.

I wonder if I’m any better now that I am a grown woman. When God give me a nudge to do something, I put it off and find many reasons why I shouldn’t obey Him. It is not now my mother that is my conscience but God. Of course, life keeps getting in the way, but that is just an excuse. God doesn’t wait for obedience, He wants me to act now.