Carol’s Blog

Resentment

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When the Prodigal Son left home, I wonder what his brother’s feelings were. He may have thought ‘Good riddance, he never did any work.’ Any day when the work was particularly heavy or things went wrong he had more bitter thoughts about his brother who was probably having a ‘whale of a time.’ Money to spend on the farm would not have been plentiful as one share had been taken out.

This resentment would have been a daily occurrence as he had also lost his father. Every day the old man was out scanning the horizon. ‘When was his son coming home?’ No longer would there be cozy evenings round the fire, the three men discussing the business of the day. The band of friendship had been broken. Even his mother would be heart-broken at losing a son and the companionship of a husband.

The bitterness was growing day by day and erupted on the day of the lad’s return. ‘You never even gave me a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.’ Luke 15:29. One could almost feel sympathy for the older brother!. But bitterness and resentment are insidious traits, they build up to a boiling point. Could we gradually be having these feelings, bit by bit, without realising it. Resentment is a bitter enemy.

Ascension Day

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This is the day that Jesus left His earthly home and ascended back to heaven, What must the disciples have thought! They had just asked the question ‘Lord, at this time are You going to restore the kingdom to Israel?’ Acts 1:6. As we would say, they just didn’t get it. Jesus was standing among them and then He wasn’t. Since they’d been following Jesus they’d witnessed many astonishing things. This would have been pretty high up on the list.

They would have looked at each other in amazement and bewilderment. Then they might begin to remember some of the things that Jesus had said to them. Slowly they probably began to understand a little bit. They had a few weeks to wait for the Holy Spirit to descent on them. Gradually they would remember His words.

This small band of men were the beginning of Christianity. These frightened men would receive the power to become strong and fearless. For over 2,000 year their message has been spread right round the world to billions and billions of people who have believed it and some have died for it. We pray that under God’s guidance we may do our bit to become part of that growth and expansion.

Deep Roots

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‘Blessed is the one who looks on the Lord ……. They will be like a tree planted by water.’ Jeremiah 17:7-8

Like so much of my country at the moment we are experiencing a drought, the country is crying out for rain. My small plants and flowers have died, the birds are continually drinking from my bird bath. The tree in my neighbour’s garden is flourishing. It’s leaves are green and healthy, there is no fear of it dying. This is because the roots go down deep to the underground water level.

‘It does not fear when the heat comes, its leaves are always green.’ verse 8. Again this is as result of the deep roots, it receives continued moisture. ‘It has no worries in the year of the drought and never fails to bear fruit.’ again verse 8.

Our souls are like the thirsty trees and plants. We need the refreshment of God’s love. The world will only bleed us dry, it will not give to us at all. Our sin will strip us of spiritual refreshment. The Bible is one of our forms of spiritual food and our source of strength. It contains words of encouragement, correction and love. In reading through the book of Psalms nearly every psalm sets us up for the day ‘My soul faints with longing for Your salvation but I have put my hope in Your word.’ Psalm 119:8

Individuals

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And God said, ‘Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds.’ Genesis 1:24

At the time of creation God made so many wonderful things for us to enjoy, a wide variety of animals, birds and living creatures. He gave us flora and fauna in a varied abundance. He must have thought we’d get bored if we only had one type of apple to eat each day. There is such a variety of fruits, plants and vegetables found all round the world. I read that nearly two thousand new plants are discovered each year.

Sometimes we need to look at the larger picture of eternity, we need to look past our small niggles and problems as we are made to be with Him for ever and ever. He knows the needs of each one of us and knows us by name. That name of ours is written on His hand. How wonderful!. We are nor just a number to Him, we are a beloved name.

Pride

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‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your mind and with all your soul.’ Matthew 22:37.

Many of the ills and troubles or this world can be put down to pride. Our God is a jealous God, He requires to have first place in our hearts. He will not share His sovereignty with others. Anything we love more than God is idolatry. Without Him we can do nothing, we are nothing. With Him in control of our lives we can achieve all that He has planned for us.

Various dictators in this world think they have no need of a god and will not move over to let Him have His rightful place. During history dictators have come and then gone, God goes on for ever. I’ve just been reading the life of The Heavenly Man who along with many others was terribly persecuted in China. Their sufferings are almost unbelievable. In China the power of communism had to be supreme. The claim that God is the only way is a threat to their power.

Before we shake our head in dismay, think of our own situations. Do we know of churches where the worship leader thinks he is more important than the preacher? Are there leaders who lord it over others? Is there sibling rivalry in our own families? ‘I’m more important than he is.’ Jesus showed the glory of true humility. He has rightly been called the Servant King.

Barnabas – Son of Encouragement

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It is so exciting in Acts 11 to read how the Early Church grew and of the work of many of the disciples. Barnabas is one such disciple. To be known as the Son of Encouragement is a lot to live up to. It was revolutionary to go to preach to the Greeks and he received criticism for doing so. At first the gospel story had been for the Jews only. It was not welcome for Barnabas to do this.

He went even further and travelled to Tarsus to look for Paul. He felt his presence would be a great help in the work of spreading the gospel. In the event the two men spent a whole year in Antioch, preaching and encouraging the people.

The story finishes with a lovely little touch. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. Acts 11.20 And today more than two thousand years later we are still known as Christians and proud to be known as such. We have the name of our Lord and Master.

Not Talented

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I read in Exodus 4 where God explains to Moses that He has made him capable of the task that God has planned for him. to do. ‘Now, go, I will help you speak.’ Exodus 4:12. God gave him a brother and a staff. Those along with His power, were all that was needed. As we read of the adventures and misadventures in Moses’ long life, that is all that was enough.

When we think of the work we have been called on to do, we have all been equally equipped. Our thoughts should not be centred on our own limitations but on God’s power. He has power more than enough. In this second part of my life I feel I have been given the ability to be a writer. Of course, I feel I am completely lacking in the necessary skills . I do not have an advanced education or a great mind, but if God has called me to do this, He equips completely. He has also provided for my words to be read. Whether through my blogs or written books, God’s words through me have been read. It doesn’t depend on any powers of mine.

Whatever our talents we can be used by God. He will give us our our own brother and staff. They will be completely adequate for His work to be done.

Missing Pieces

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Do we sometimes feel something is missing when we read the Bible? We want more details than often we are given. In the stories in the Acts of the Apostles especially, we want to know more details. Who were the other people present at the scene? What were their thoughts, how did the stories end.? I want to know more and learn more.

I believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God. This means that we are told all we need to know. We have enough knowledge to lead us to salvation. The many things we are not told are things we don’t need to know. Studying the Bible is very good and informative but everything necessary for us to know is there for us to read.

Gifts

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I have a friend who says she doesn’t have any spiritual gifts. As she has been a great homemaker with a husband and four children to care for I didn’t agree with her analysis of herself. I also feel this is an insult to God who has given us all gifts according to the grace given to each of us. Romans 12:3-8 He has blessed us all with talents.

Finding these gifts through our lives is not always easy but anything worthwhile is never easy. It is also possible that our gifts change during our lives as the need arises. I felt at one time I had the gift of hospitality. Everyone received a welcome when they came to see me. This is not so applicable now as I’ve got older. My gift of encouragement has grown as I’ve had more time to listen to people. and had more experience of life.

My gift as a writer did not appear until I became older in life. I had time and opportunity to learn more about the process and work hard at it. My skill and practice gradually increased. Like all gifts they must not be wasted; they are God-given. Ephesians tells us ‘For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do ‘

Rain

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My garden and my neighbours’ are is crying out for rain. My farmer friend has thirsty crops. Although our weather has been dry for many weeks , we are not in the position that Elijah and the Israelites were in. 1 Kings 17:1 As the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except by my word.’ No rain for a few years! Today round the world people are still living with the effects of drought, a longing for refreshing rain to fall. Today round the world people are still living with the effects of drought, a longing for refreshing rain to fall.

Besides physical drought there is also drought of the soul. There is so much in the world that would rob us of our spiritual refreshment. From the media we are bombarded news of the flesh. If we had more money, more health, more friends we would be happy. Deep down we know this is not true. Only God can truly satisfy.

But we can find ourselves having less time for reading the Bible, less opportunity to pray a declining need to have Christian fellowship. It is a slow drought that over takes us. We need to deliberately keep the channels of blessing open. Nothing will happen automatically. It needs to be a deliberate action on our part. We need to ask God to refresh us as He is waiting to give us showers of blessing. As the hymn says, ‘Mercy drops round us are falling but for the showers we plead’. Daniel Webster Whittle. May we actively seek for the refreshment of our souls.