After last week's cold, now we are getting some 'less cold' weather. Whether this is real spring, or just a pause before some more cold and snow, I have no idea.
But eventually, spring will come, and there will be daffodils and spring flowers in abundance, and leaf buds will break open, and we will all be astonished and amazed, as happens each year.
I am reminded of the scene in 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe', when the White Witch's sleigh can no longer slide easily through the deep snow, because 'This is no thaw, this is Aslan's doing.' When Aslan is on the move, the White Witch's days are numbered.
For Christian people, the resurrection of Jesus is the proof that God has broken the power of sin and death, so that all creation can rejoice in the new life that comes with spring.
St. Peter wrote to the dispersed and persecuted Christians of his day, focusing on what God has done for us in Jesus. Seeing this makes all the difference.
'All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. (1 Peter 1.3-4)
Today, we can all live with this eager expectation, and rejoice in God's amazing plan. We look back to the solid reality of Jesus' victory, and look forward to our priceless inheritance, so we can live moment by moment in the light of these two certainties.
Have a great day!
Best wishes,
Richard
Monday, 13 February 2012
Thursday, 9 February 2012
Testing Times
News from Syria continues to be exceedingly gloomy. I have Syrian friends, and wonder what they are going through.
While the politicians wrangle, the NHS struggles to deliver their best dreams, and many staff and some patients experience difficulties.
There are also many families and individuals known to us where life is very hard at present, for many reasons.
In all these scenarios, is there hope?
St. Paul faced troubles of many sorts, and he learned a lesson or two which can inspire us too.
'We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.' (2 Corinthians 4.8-10)
Because Paul was able to relate his experiences of trouble and difficulty to the experiences of Jesus, he had hope that God had not abandoned him.
When we face what look like impossible odds, we can know too that was what Jesus faced, and after death came life.
Therefore, we need to entrust ourselves, with all our troubles and worries, into the hands of the God who sent Jesus into our world, to live, suffer, die and rise again for us.
May He bring us all hope, as we trust Him.
Best wishes,
Richard
While the politicians wrangle, the NHS struggles to deliver their best dreams, and many staff and some patients experience difficulties.
There are also many families and individuals known to us where life is very hard at present, for many reasons.
In all these scenarios, is there hope?
St. Paul faced troubles of many sorts, and he learned a lesson or two which can inspire us too.
'We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.' (2 Corinthians 4.8-10)
Because Paul was able to relate his experiences of trouble and difficulty to the experiences of Jesus, he had hope that God had not abandoned him.
When we face what look like impossible odds, we can know too that was what Jesus faced, and after death came life.
Therefore, we need to entrust ourselves, with all our troubles and worries, into the hands of the God who sent Jesus into our world, to live, suffer, die and rise again for us.
May He bring us all hope, as we trust Him.
Best wishes,
Richard
Wednesday, 8 February 2012
The John Lewis way
With Waitrose on our doorstep, we probably know something of the John Lewis way. Staff members are also 'Partners', and receive their share of the company's successes. In the context of discussions about bankers' bonuses, the John Lewis way seems a much more acceptable way to reward good performance. Everybody (almost) in the organisation plays their part in it progress, and everybody is rewarded accordingly.
As many of us take part, at St. Andrew's, in the Everybody Welcome course, we are discovering, like John Lewis, that everybody is involved, in one way or another in providing a welcome, or not! We are all in this together, and have much to learn about doing our best, for the sake of those not yet our members.
This is what St. Paul taught his 'difficult' friends in Corinth, who were very happy to fall our with one another. 'If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honoured, all the parts are glad. All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.' (1 Corinthians 12.26-27)
As we learn to be Christ's body, in practice as well as in spirit, we will discover that people are drawn to Him through us. And that is exactly what our Church slogan says. 'To know Jesus better, and so to make him better known.'
What a great privilege!
Best wishes,
Richard
As many of us take part, at St. Andrew's, in the Everybody Welcome course, we are discovering, like John Lewis, that everybody is involved, in one way or another in providing a welcome, or not! We are all in this together, and have much to learn about doing our best, for the sake of those not yet our members.
This is what St. Paul taught his 'difficult' friends in Corinth, who were very happy to fall our with one another. 'If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honoured, all the parts are glad. All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.' (1 Corinthians 12.26-27)
As we learn to be Christ's body, in practice as well as in spirit, we will discover that people are drawn to Him through us. And that is exactly what our Church slogan says. 'To know Jesus better, and so to make him better known.'
What a great privilege!
Best wishes,
Richard
Tuesday, 7 February 2012
Worry Buster
Most of us worry about assorted things.
Some are trivial, while other matters seem to deserve our best worries. We stay awake or go round in circles, make lists and hope things might end up OK. But we worry. Is there another way to live?
Jesus taught us that worry was fruitless. '“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?' (Matthew 6.25-27)
St. Paul showed his friends in Philippi how they could experience God's peace rather than the worries of life. 'Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4.4-7)
If we follow Paul's pattern, we start with praise, taking time to count our blessings and only then getting on to telling the Lord about all our concerns. The end result will be God's peace taking hold of our lives. How good will that be!
How about trying this out? We will be blessed, and we will discover a different way to live.
Best wishes,
Richard
Some are trivial, while other matters seem to deserve our best worries. We stay awake or go round in circles, make lists and hope things might end up OK. But we worry. Is there another way to live?
Jesus taught us that worry was fruitless. '“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?' (Matthew 6.25-27)
St. Paul showed his friends in Philippi how they could experience God's peace rather than the worries of life. 'Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4.4-7)
If we follow Paul's pattern, we start with praise, taking time to count our blessings and only then getting on to telling the Lord about all our concerns. The end result will be God's peace taking hold of our lives. How good will that be!
How about trying this out? We will be blessed, and we will discover a different way to live.
Best wishes,
Richard
Monday, 6 February 2012
Dedication
Today, 60 years from the day that Princess Elizabeth became Queen, there are many references and programmes, and much literature to help us review these 60 years. The Queen herself has said that today she will dedicate herself anew to serving all the peoples of her kingdom and Commonwealth.
While we look forward to celebrating the Diamond Jubilee with many others in June, it is worth recalling that we are celebrating her wonderful dedication, which has been lived out daily for all thee years. The Queen's sense of duty and privilege at having the responsibility to live for the sake of others has been crafted from plenty of hard work and an astonishing sense of God's call on her life.
St. Paul wrote to his Roman friends about how they should live out their lives in dedication to God's mercy in sending Jesus. 'And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.' (Romans 12.1)
If our dedication requires us to give our bodies to God, what might that involve? Paul goes on to describe the process we all need to follow, if we are to be worthy followers. 'Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12.2)
God's part is to be merciful, and ours is to respond in dedicating ourselves anew - daily! Our part is to resist the behaviour an customs of this present world, and God's part is to transform our thinking, so that we can live lives which please Him.
So today is a chance to have our thinking reshaped by the God who sent us Jesus. Let us be dedicated to this calling today!
Best wishes,
Richard
While we look forward to celebrating the Diamond Jubilee with many others in June, it is worth recalling that we are celebrating her wonderful dedication, which has been lived out daily for all thee years. The Queen's sense of duty and privilege at having the responsibility to live for the sake of others has been crafted from plenty of hard work and an astonishing sense of God's call on her life.
St. Paul wrote to his Roman friends about how they should live out their lives in dedication to God's mercy in sending Jesus. 'And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.' (Romans 12.1)
If our dedication requires us to give our bodies to God, what might that involve? Paul goes on to describe the process we all need to follow, if we are to be worthy followers. 'Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12.2)
God's part is to be merciful, and ours is to respond in dedicating ourselves anew - daily! Our part is to resist the behaviour an customs of this present world, and God's part is to transform our thinking, so that we can live lives which please Him.
So today is a chance to have our thinking reshaped by the God who sent us Jesus. Let us be dedicated to this calling today!
Best wishes,
Richard
Friday, 3 February 2012
Promises
We know that politicians of all sorts make promises on which they often fail to deliver. That is one reason why people get used to being cynical about politicians' trustworthiness. That then leads to a low level of engagement in people bothering to vote and so on.
But many of us make 'promises', or commitments, often without thinking about the delivery side of the issue, and then later forget what was said. Words are of course easy, and actions are more difficult.
The Bible is full of the promises that God has made to people like us. Because it is a long story, we can also see how the delivery side of the issue shows up.
Yesterday, 2nd February, was the 'Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple', which happened 40 days after the birth of Jesus. Luke's account has 2 older people, Simeon and Anna, encountering the baby, when Mary & Joseph bring him to the Temple in Jerusalem, so that they can offer the sacrifice expected for a first-born male child.
Simeon's beautiful comments, known as the Nunc Dimitis (Latin!), have been sung in churches for nearly 2000 years. 'Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, “Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!” (Luke 2.28-32)
The old man had this sense that God had kept his promise to send a saviour, who would be the light for people of all nations, and seeing the child, reckoned the Lord had kept his promise, so he could die peacefully and content.
To know that God is faithful and trustworthy will provide solid foundations for us, as we look forward to all the uncertainties of life. I don't know what today or tomorrow will bring, but He does, and He can be trusted.
Best wishes,
Richard
But many of us make 'promises', or commitments, often without thinking about the delivery side of the issue, and then later forget what was said. Words are of course easy, and actions are more difficult.
The Bible is full of the promises that God has made to people like us. Because it is a long story, we can also see how the delivery side of the issue shows up.
Yesterday, 2nd February, was the 'Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple', which happened 40 days after the birth of Jesus. Luke's account has 2 older people, Simeon and Anna, encountering the baby, when Mary & Joseph bring him to the Temple in Jerusalem, so that they can offer the sacrifice expected for a first-born male child.
Simeon's beautiful comments, known as the Nunc Dimitis (Latin!), have been sung in churches for nearly 2000 years. 'Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, “Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!” (Luke 2.28-32)
The old man had this sense that God had kept his promise to send a saviour, who would be the light for people of all nations, and seeing the child, reckoned the Lord had kept his promise, so he could die peacefully and content.
To know that God is faithful and trustworthy will provide solid foundations for us, as we look forward to all the uncertainties of life. I don't know what today or tomorrow will bring, but He does, and He can be trusted.
Best wishes,
Richard
Wednesday, 1 February 2012
Remembering
Last evening, Betty & I spent some time looking over the pictures taken when we walked the 630 miles of South West Coast Path, some years ago. The scrapbooks had been assembled around the time we did the walking, but I had never spent time looking over the details of what we had done. Betty on the other hand, having put the scrapbooks together, knew every step of the way. as though she had been there recently! What I had forgotten, though I was there, she had remembered!
The Bible is full of reminders to remember, and we do well to learn to do this.
When Joshua, the new Israelite leader in about 1200BC is given his instructions from the Lord, remembering is at the heart of his charge.
“Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them. I promise you what I promised Moses: ‘Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you. No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live.' For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.' (Joshua 1.2, 3, 5)
Joshua is reminded of the promises given to and through Moses, and encouraged that the Lord was going to fulfil those very promises. In all that was to come, the Lord was going to be seen as faithful and trustworthy. That knowledge comes from taking time to remember.
All of us can easily forget the Lord's faithfulness to his promises, and so we start to doubt Him. But when we take time to recall the journey we have been on, or learn of God's faithfulness throughout Christian history, then our own sense of trust grows. Remembering is good for our soul's health.
Best wishes,
Richard
The Bible is full of reminders to remember, and we do well to learn to do this.
When Joshua, the new Israelite leader in about 1200BC is given his instructions from the Lord, remembering is at the heart of his charge.
“Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them. I promise you what I promised Moses: ‘Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you. No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live.' For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.' (Joshua 1.2, 3, 5)
Joshua is reminded of the promises given to and through Moses, and encouraged that the Lord was going to fulfil those very promises. In all that was to come, the Lord was going to be seen as faithful and trustworthy. That knowledge comes from taking time to remember.
All of us can easily forget the Lord's faithfulness to his promises, and so we start to doubt Him. But when we take time to recall the journey we have been on, or learn of God's faithfulness throughout Christian history, then our own sense of trust grows. Remembering is good for our soul's health.
Best wishes,
Richard
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)