Carol’s Blog

My Own Plank

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My hairdresser shared with me an incidence in her life. Her daughter was struggling at school and it was felt she might be dyslectic. The problem was the daughter was frightened to take the test. Her mother, my hairdresser, offered also take the test alongside her. The results showed that the daughter was not dyslectic but the mother was! This result was quite unexpected as she had passed all her hairdresser exams with flying colours.

This immediately reminded me of the teaching from the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7. Jesus showed a sense of humour here. Obviously no-one can have a plank in their own eye, but Jesus contrasted it with the piece of sawdust in the brother’s eye. The sawdust is the smallest piece of a splinter you can have. The plank is impossible and ridiculous. But it does show up how hypocritical we can be as we are so blind to our own faults. We have no difficulty in seeing where others are going wrong, while at the same time we’re rushing down the same path..

Have Faith in God

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‘I can do all things through God who strengthens me.’ the Bible tells us in Philippians 4:13

The neon light outside a church I passed daily as a child said ‘Have faith in God.’ So much was it a part of our landscape that we would ask the bus driver to drop us off at ‘Have Faith in God, using it as the name for the bus stop. I never thought about the words then, it was just there. Over the decades I wonder how many people like myself had never thought about the meaning of those words and how many have taken the words to heart.

Eric Liddle, Gladys Aylward and others have had faith in God and done great work for Him. Hudson Taylor and many more of God’s servants went to the country of China under the strength of God. Mary Slessor witnessed in Nigeria. Countless missionaries in the past and today have worked for the Lord under that same banner. They went in the strength of God and achieved great things for Him.

How often do we rely on our own strength and have faith on our puny endeavours? How often do we fail to achieve because our will power is not enough? Today we teach our youngsters they can do anything if they have enough faith in themselves. Not true. Apart from God, we can do nothing.

I Want to See

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‘What do you want me to do for you?’ Mark 10:51, Jesus asked Bartimaeus. This was actually a loaded question because He knew that when He gave healing and sight was restored, the man’s life would never be the same again. No longer would he be dependent on others. In the future he wouldn’t be receiving coins to keep him going, he would have to work for a living. He wouldn’t be an object of pity but would be responsible and active in society.

It’s interesting to note that the blind man ‘threw his cloak aside.’ His symbol of being a beggar was no longer needed. He would now be a respectable citizen and not a beggar. He moved from being dependent to being independent. There would be future calls upon his status in society.

When we go from blindness of the heart to the sight of redemption, when we move from darkness to light, everything about our life will change. We’re no longer our own, we’re answerable to God. No longer can we steal, cheat or lie, even slightly. Our standards are different.There are no excuses for our sin; we can’t continue in our selfishness, we have a responsibility to others. We have been shown forgiveness, this forgiveness needs to be passed on to others. As well as receiving help, we now need to give help to others. We become fledgling missionaries, the Good News can’t be kept to ourselves as we follow in the steps of so many before us.

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One Day at a Time

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‘Give us this day our daily bread.’ Matthew 6:11

In the prayer that Jesus taught we are instructed only to ask for provision for the present day. We trust that God will give this to us and know that when on the next day we ask for provision for that day, He will also give it. Tomorrow’s problems should not be today’s worries.

When I was moving house, I recall writing in my diary ‘I’m learning not to leave to tomorrow what should be done today and not to do today what can be left until tomorrow.’ This allowed me to cope with the numerous tasks. Matthew 6:34 tells us ‘So do not worry about tomorrow.’ Obviously some plans for the future need to be made; to have no forward planning would be unwise.

But we do not need to worry about the future, God has everything under control. In the words of Hudson Taylor ‘Bear not a single care yourself, one is too much for thee, the work is Mine and Mine alone, your work is to rest in Me.’ Why do we find it easier to worry than to pray? We have no knowledge or control over the future. Let’s leave it to Him who knows and controls the future. In modern parlance ‘ Sufficient unto the day, is the evil thereof.’

There is a lesson is to be learned from the manna which God provided for Israelites when they were in the desert. Provision was given for one day at a time, they couldn’t stockpile the food.

To an Unknown God

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Paul was gifted with the wonderful talent of being able to meet people where they were. When he had walked round Athens, he’d noticed there were altars to many different gods. He used this as a starting point to reach out to the people and even complimented them, ‘I see that in many ways you are very religious.’ I imagine the townsfolk of Athens were flattered by this observation and willing to listen further.

There is no accusing attitude in what Paul had to say and in no way is he blaming them for having many gods. He talks about their altar to an unknown god and then says he is going to show this unknown god to them. If there was a master class in evangelizing, this surely would be it. At the end of the sermon we read that some of the listeners sneered but others said ‘We want to hear you again on this subject.’

I pray that when we start to speak to others about Christ, the Holy Spirit may reveal to us ‘a way in.’ Obviously there are as many different approaches as there are people. I’ve marveled at the various ways the Holy Spirit has worked in my conversations. It has been different approach but always a friendly conversation has been possible. It should not be surprising as God, and not us, knows exactly where our listener is standing spiritually.

‘You’ll Never Walk Alone.’

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‘Therefore, if I have found favour in Your sight, please now show me Your way.’ Exodus 33:13

God replies, ‘This very thing that you have spoken, I will do.’ Exodus 33:14

Moses was being asked by God to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt into the Promised Land. Considering the large number of people and families and all their belongings it was a tremendously difficult task. He knew he couldn’t do it alone. Moses asks God to go with him, which He graciously agrees to do.

In the New Testament after the resurrection two disciples were on the road to Emmaus, heart-broken and bewildered. Their dreams were broken, their hopes dashed. But they were not to walk alone, as a stranger joined them. They didn’t have to journey and struggle without help. Jesus Himself walked alongside them.

We too are on a journey, the journey of life. Along the way we will meet problems, trials and heartbreaks. We never know what a new day will bring; it may be trouble, it may be joy. If the day brings trouble we have no idea how to deal with it. But we don ‘t have to walk the journey of life in a solitary way. Throughout the Bible we find promises from God. ‘I will be with you,’ ‘Do not be afraid,’ ‘I am your God.’ God knows the way and guides and helps us . It is exceedingly true, ‘You’ll never walk alone.’

My Lane

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I’ve been thrilled to watch the Olympic Games as well as the Paralympics. My favourite events were the track races, probably because my father in his time, was a track racer at a much lower level and as a small child I had the privilege of being near him when he was an official for 1948 Olympic Games in London. I listened with awe of the account when, with my mother, they were both at the Games in Berlin in 1936. I had hoped to go to the Games when they were again in London in 2012 but was unable to go.

In the track events every runner has to keep in his or her own lane at the right times. As with the swimming races, to stray into another lane causes chaos and disqualification. Every lane is clearly marked.

In our own lives we also need to stay in our own ‘lanes’ and live the life God has planned for us and not hanker after another. I’ve always wanted to be able to sing and maybe perform but that is not a gift I’ve been granted. I console myself with the fact that I will be able to sing in heaven. Even my flute, piano and clarinet playing were of poor standard. Another talent I wished I had possessed was to be sporty. Like my father I would have enjoyed being athletic but it never happened.

God has given me other gifts, the gift of writing and being able to make friends easily. I need to keep to my own lane, that is where God will be able to use me best.

Doubt

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To those in prison around the world suffering for their faith, there must be times of anguish and doubt. Is there a God out there at all? As I have never suffered for my faith at that level I can’t deeply understand. But John the Baptist was one such person. He had been the forerunner of the Messiah and had been the person to baptize Jesus. Now he was languishing in prison and asking the question ‘Are You the One we have been expecting, or are we still waiting?’

Jesus gave him a list of His miracles. The blind had been made to see again. Those who were lame were now walking, cleansing had been given to those who had leprosy, the deaf were able to hear again. Jesus finished by stating that the dead had been raised to life. And finally there was the good news that salvation would be available through the blood and resurrection of Jesus Himself.

This wasn’t just encouragement for John, it is encouraging for every one today. Our God is a God of miracles and also salvation. He is not only a doer of good works, He is the bringer of life, fuller and more abundant. To John’s question the answer is ‘Yes, He is the One.’

Sharing Meals

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‘When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the twelve,’ Matthew 26:20. At the Last Supper Jesus was enjoying a meal with His friends. He also know it would be the last time He would dine with them before His crucifixion. We often find Jesus eating with His friends while here on earth. This last supper was so important that it has been celebrated down the centuries, as Jesus requested it should be, in remembrance of Him.

One of the first things that Jesus did after His resurrection was to eat again with friends. This time it was on the seashore. After Jesus had cooked the breakfast (it must have been the best tasting breakfast ever) He reaffirmed His love and forgiveness to Peter, who had denied Him so badly. Previously we find Him eating at the home of Mary and Martha, though it proved to be a time of sibling rivalry, showing that even in the presence of Jesus there can be problems. At the disciples’ home in Emmaus the unrecognized Jesus dined with his two disciples until the fellowship was cut short by His disappearance. Another occasion was the wedding feast at Cana, though again not all went smoothly.

I am blessed that I can share my home with others as I offer anything from a glass of water to a full-blown meal. It can be a time of friendship, conversation and love. If Jesus can also be present that makes it special.

Come to my House

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He wasn’t dressed up in his best clothes, a good thing under the circumstances. His beard may not have been tidied up that day Undoubtedly, he was dusty and sweaty from the heat of the day and clambering up a tree. His home certainly wasn’t ready for visitors. There was no time to clean up and tidy up when Jesus said to Zacchaeus ‘I must stay at your house today.’

On arrival would Jesus have seen the table cluttered with the implements of his trade, weighing scales, calculations, the odd coin. Jesus was going to see him just as he was, untidy, unkempt, unprepared and utterly amazed. When we invite Jesus into our hearts we don’t have to clean up first. There is no point in waiting until we have our sin under control before asking Him into our lives. We can’t delay until we are older and wiser. Jesus says, ‘I must come into your heart, today.’

When I was a child I received a delightful little book by Joan Gale Thomas entitled ‘If Jesus came to my House.’ Written in rhyme I was asked to consider what it would be like if the boy Jesus did come to my house.

‘I’d run downstairs to meet Him, the door I’d open wide

and I would sat to Jesus, won ‘t You’ come inside.’

After sharing my toys, secret places and fears, I would then realise that Jesus couldn’t physically come to my house but I could go to His (his church) and I could do for others what I couldn’t actually do for Jesus.

‘I still can share with Jesus the nicest of my toys

by lending them or giving them to other girls and boys.’