Carol’s Blog

In the Boat

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If you’re like me you have problems every day, mostly small and insignificant but frustrated plans and upsets all the time. They are small things that go wrong. but with God’s help easily sorted. But that’s the point, He doesn’t say ‘This is Saturday, I’ll take a day off’ or ‘It’s Tuesday, I won’t be needed today.’ Every day He is with us.

In this Biblical story when Jesus was in the boat with His disciples a typical storm blows up. The disciples should have been used to these storms, they were quite frequent. Jesus was in the boat. Although He was resting they should have known were safe.

We never need to face our storms alone, for how can our finite minds cope with the storms of life? When we look at our problems we only see our part of the difficulty. We can ‘t see the whole picture ourselves. Only God knows the overall situation, we don’t have to figure it our ourselves.. God is only a prayer away. 24/7 He is with us, guiding, protecting, counselling, even when we forget to ask for His guidance. I sometimes have to say to Him ‘Thank You for the answer to the prayer i didn’t even get round to asking.’ Whether we are awake or asleep, He will help. God is with us in the boat.

Dreams

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Dreams in the Bible were very significant. Even today in closed countries, men and women see Jesus in their dreams and seek to know more about Him, in spite of the danger. My dreams are just rubbishy with no significance. Maybe that’s because I don’t need them. God can speak to me through the Bible (I have quite a few different versions), through my Christian friends and my prayer time.

In Genesis 41, Pharaoh was being troubled by his dreams and after speaking with his once-imprisoned cup-bearer, he sent for Joseph, an interpreter of dreams. Under God’s revelation he was able to declare there would be seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. By collecting and storing a fifth of the produce during the good years, they would be able to survive the famine years.

Many of us now are in our plentiful years, but we need to be prepared for the lean years which can come at any time, like bereavement, loss of health or ability or lack of money. We can do this by building up our spiritual life while we can. Time spent with God is an investment for eternity. By speaking with Him now we will recognise Him more. By regular church connections we will learn much from the sermons and fellowship with other Christians and be able to pray for each other in our times of need. Now is the time to ‘fill our barns’ that we may lay up treasure in heaven.

Encouragement

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Last week I had the opportunity to zoom with a group of writers that I only make contact with twice a year. During the meeting I learned that many of my friends were going through difficult tims, bereavements, marriage breakdowns, family illness and so on. The list seemed quite long. I was then able to make a list of action. There were those I could phone, text or email and one I could even visit. I was able to be in the position of encouragement.

In the past I have been encouraged by the prayers and contacts of others. When I’ve been in danger or trouble, the messages I’ve received have uplifted me. Now it is my turn. Of course, I pray for them, for there is nothing better but people also need to know that they are being remembered.

I recall that many years ago I had a long period of illness and was not able to attend church for many months. During that time I received no encouragement or contact with my church. When I was fit enough to return, I was told ‘We’ve been praying for you.’ But I didn’t know that, I had felt rejected.

We know that prayers do make a difference but we also need to let people know they are remembered. So when we get a heavenly nudge we must let people know they are being prayed for.

Autumn Leaves

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‘As long as the earth endures, seed time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease. Genesis 8:22

At the beginning of the week the vibrant coloured leaves hung on the trees, looking stunning as they were back-lit by the weak autumn sun. By the next night after a strong wind, they were dancing on my lawn separated from their life-giving tree. The once stunning colours began to fade as they were wind-swept to and fro

We can be like these autumn leaves, beautiful while we are attached to our tree of life, God. Once we become detached we are disorientated by every shade of opinion and distraction that arises. Our faith, unlike the leaves, is not seasonal. Our God is a constant. He does not slumber or sleep. It is not necessary for us to be blown about by every passing wind. Looking at the characters in the Bible we see people that took their eyes off God and then floundered. The Israelites spent decades in the wilderness because they disobeyed God as their leader. Peter walked on the water until he took his eyes off Jesus and began to sink.

It is just the same with us. Watching the church on zoom, when we could be at church, we are missing out on Christian fellowship, preferring to go to a football match instead of attending church, we will miss out on the blessing. Because of the change in the hour, we cut down our prayer time. Finding the Bible confusing because we don’t read it often enough. All reasons to become tossed about.

May we not become like autumn leaves.

Punishment

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Forty years is a long time in anyone’s life. That was how long the Israelites had to further wander in the wilderness as punishment for their disobedience. ‘For forty years, one for each year of the forty days you explored the land, you will suffer for your sins and know what its like to have Me against you.’ Numbers 14:2

How awful to have God as an enemy, that is what sin does, separates us from God. God had performed so many miracles for the Israelites – escaping Egypt, crossing the Red Sea, provision of manna and then quails, but that was not enough. Rejecting the Promised Land was the final straw. They would never enter the land, they would grow old and die still wandering in the desert. It was an almost complete breakdown of of a once great nation.

Do we sometimes forget God’s great power and the many blessings He has given us? Have we lost the ‘fear of the Lord.’

In Pain

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My friend in England has a boy friend in Germany, so visits there frequently. She is gradually learning to speak German but occasionally has a lapse when she can’t think of the right word in time. I often have a laugh as she describes her mistakes.

One day she went into a second-hand German bookshop. She found a book she really wanted to buy but because of its very poor condition she felt the asking price was too high. In her haste and stuck for the right word, she came out with the words ‘This book is in pain!’

It made me think of our world which is in pain. Viewing it, God is in pain also. The Bible puts it like this ‘We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in pains of childbirth up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, groan as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.’ Romans 8:22

Thigs are not right, we have turned away from God as we try to run our own lives. God’s way is the best way, the only way. All we can do is keep our eyes on Him and not on the troubles of the world. Nor are we asked to take on these enormous problem ourselves. By keeping close to Him we will be able to do what is His will for us.

Secret Weapon

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”We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.’ Number 13:30

The twelve spies had just returned from exploring the Promised Land. Ten of the men magnified the problems and minimised the resources.Yet on their shoulders they bore the evidence of the richness of the land. But their hearts were consumed by fear; the people looked like giants and unbeatable.

The men had clear instructions from Moses; were the people strong or weak, the land good or bad, fertile or poor. But ten men forgot their secret weapon – God.

In our day and age, things look bad for the world, war in strategic places, no clear indication as to who is friend or enemy. The results of the election in the United States can have implications round the world. We have our own family problems and illnesses. The rejection of Christianity in various parts of the world is distressing. We could go on and on.

But what about our secret weapon? We have a God who notes the death of a sparrow and also has control of every nation. He can ease our pains and problems. May we not be like the Israelites , who messed up big time. Our God is supreme and knows the way we should take.

Childish or Childlike

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‘I tell you unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven.’ Matthew 18:3

I was never too clear as to what this verse meant but having heard a marvelous sermon on Sunday it is so much clearer. Some of our youngsters remained in the service, so it was explained at their level (and at mine too, it seems.) The children were asked ‘Did you drive your family to church this morning?’ Obviously not. Again ‘Do you do your family shop?’ Again, no, though they may assist in a small way. Then it was pointed out that they needed to rely on adults. They were only children.

Turning to the adults, ‘Can you run your lives without the help of God?’ The answer has to be no. We need to rely on God, just as children reply on adults. We need to be childlike and not childish. My hastily written notes during the sermon read, ‘Children rely on adults, they can’t do a thing alone. We need to rely on God. Trust. What am I relying on?’

I trust I have been able to make this as clear to you as it was to me.

Autumn

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‘As long as the earth endures seed-time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.’ Genesis 8:22

We moan that the rhythm of our seasons are more unpredictable these days, but spring still follows winter, summer follows spring and at this time of year we know that autumn follows summer. In spite of some days feeling more wintery and others feeling more summery, God in His mercy still keeps His promises and the seasons will not cease. I don’t need to describe autumn to you as we have lived through so many; a time when leaves fall off the trees, birds migrate, morning frosts appear and mist clothes the hills.

Although we are depending more on industry and believe we are more sophisticated, we still rely on God for our sustenance. Life wouldn’t exist without His care and provision. Although churches do not have harvest festival services so much these days, we still need to give thanks for His provision towards us.

His providing for us is a blessing received, as is the air we breathe, so necessary for continuance of life, and all His blessings to us. Do we remember to thank Him for things we so often do not even notice – food, rest, seasons, and friendship? May we say with the Psalmist ‘We thank and praise You, Lord.’

Not Perfect

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The plant holder made by a young loving daughter stood outside the front door full of white cyclamen. The pot was not perfect and the daughter, now adult urged her mother, ‘Throw out that old pot, it’s so ugly. I was only young when I made it.’ But the planter is much-loved because it was made with love by a youngster who was never going to become a master potter.

The pot was higher on one side than the other and somehow there was a twist down the sides. But it did the job it was made for, it held plants and flowers which made a lovely arrangement. It didn’t leak and the neighbours appreciated the display.

We are like that imperfect plant holder. We aren’t perfect in mind, body or soul. But importantly we have been made with love. There is no doubt abut it, God loves us out of shape human beings. He knows we are higher on one side than the other, with our irrational, emotional and biased views. We can definitely be twisted, sometimes full of love and goodness, sometimes full of hate and spite.

But our lovable qualities can be noticed by non-believers. Like the much-loved pot, God won’t be throwing us out.