The Strength of God

Be humble under God's powerful had so he will lift you up when the right time comes. 1 Peter 5:6

This is an extract from Peter's letter to the elders in Turkey; this was called Minor Asia back then. It is believed that he wrote the letter from Rome, where he himself died for his faith.

Minor Asia was a country born into Paganism. For the Christian faith to survive here, like many other countries, the letters from the Apostles were vital. Many of the letters gave instructions and guidance; they were also full of encouragement.

This part of Peter's letter is encouraging the elders to keep strong in their new belief, and not to be out off by those people who continue to be Pagans. Christianity was still young in Minor Asia, so the temptation to go back to the old ways was still strong.

But what we today can take from this passage is something of much more importance; it is lesson for those who have been Christians for years and those new to the faith.

Sometime things in life happen that just don't seem fair or just don't make sense to why they happen to you. We must always remember we part of God's plan; he is not part of ours. He knows what’s best, he know how to make you a powerful tool of his. So all we can do is trust his judgement, trust in him with our whole hearts. We must keep looking towards God as we will in time see his purpose. His love and Grace will be revelled to us in full.

So in short:

Avoid pride and legalism - Resist the devil

Be humble, conform with all that is required - walk with God

Just remember: Most people wish to serve God, but only in an advisory capacity

God Bless

Christ Be With You

Let us live in a right way, like people who belong to the day. We shall not have wild parties or get drunk. There should be no sexual sin of any kind, no fighting or jealousy. But clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ and forget about satisfying your sinful self. Romans 13:12-13

After reading this the words that spring to mind are: Be to the world as Christ was to you.

We should not be looking for things that give us instant joy. We should not be looking to at how we can get even with the other just because they have been bad to us. We should be looking to shadow Christ. Challenge people, challenge legalism, challenge one another. But most of all, love, nothing can beat the power of love.

Christ Jesus had an unfailing love. He forgave the adulterer with the most beautiful words: 'Nor do I condemn you, you may go, do not sin again.'

He used the tool of recognition by using Zacheaus' name to call the thief, and the outcast of society to be his follower.

He embraced the whole person by asking the blind man what he could do for him.

He reached out and contaminated the leper with healing.

And finally, he used the words that King David wrote for him in Psalms 23, as he died on the cross, 'It is finished'

God's work was complete. God experienced the human world through a man of purity and without sin. He then went on the purchase us with a price to high that nobody would out bid him.

He put his own son in the place of all humanity. Jesus took the punishment that we as sinners should have. But God loved us so much, he put his own life before ours.

God Bless

Healthy Words

Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, making people happy and health. Proverbs 16:24

Kind words help us to be healthy and relax.

In times of anguish or hardship, it can be easier just to say bad words, say nasty things behind someones back.

When you have been in this situation of hardship, when you have spent so much time blaming someone else, has it really made you feel any better?

Unkind words make us stressed, we can't relax, we feel tense. Can you relate to this?

Have you ever thought about giving someone what they don't deserve? You remember the story of the Prodigal Son? On returning home, the father gave the son what he didn't deserve. How many of you would have a party for someone who has spent several years away from home and spent all your money? Not many of you I suspect.

I think there might have been an exchange of some unkind words before allowing the son back into the house? Yes?

Well here's a thought, if words are like toothpaste, once they are out they can't be put back, why not make the words kind ones, at least then they wouldn't need to be put back.

God Bless

Ascension Day

Jesus led his followers as far as Bethany and raised his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing hem, he was separated from them and carried into heaven. Luke 24:50-51

In basic terms the Ascension was the completion of the circle of the Holy Trinity. Christ leaving the apostles as he had spoke about during his ministry and ascended into Heaven to be with the Father.

The account I have used is that of the Gospel of Luke. It is in Luke's second book, Acts of the Apostles, that we discover the work of the Holy Spirit.

All the things that happened to Jesus' are predicted all over the Old Testament.

God seems to obsessed with 40 days. Jesus spent 40 days in the desert before he began his ministry, it was 40 days after the resurrection that Jesus ascended into heaven after his ministry.

The 40 day theme runs through the whole bible, it rained for 40 days and 40 night as Noah lived in the safety for the boat.

But my main point today is that the Ascension of the Messiah completes the stories of the life of Jesus and what is predicted about him in the Old Testament. The rest of the New Testament is letters that commentate on the work of the Apostles.

God Bless

Killed by kindness

"The Lord who saved me from the lion and a bear will save me from this Philistine." Saul said to David, "Go and may the Lord be with you." 1 Samuel 17:37

When you are confronted with a mammoth task or problem what is your basic instinct? "It to be to tackle" or "It to big to miss"

It is sometimes the bigger problems that bring us the bigger sense of achievement, but these are the tasks that often bring us the biggest fear.

Have you ever put your trust in someone who has no trust in themselves?

Some years ago a man was taken to prison after a moment of madness had led to him killing a woman. He feared himself, up until this point he never knew he was capable of doing such a thing.

He became the model inmate, and soon was given some freedom outside of his cell. Though he often returned to voluntary when his anguish got to much.

One day one of the guards gave him an axe saying that he want this man to help him make a clearing, the prisoner was scared. But the guard quite clearly said, "If I am not afraid then why should you be?"

The 2 returned at the end of the day from the jungle, the prisoner was sweating, but was smiling, he had defeated the giant inside of him.

So when we are confront with giant problems, let God put his kindness in us by saying "If I think you can do it, why should you doubt?"

The giant problems are just to big to miss, so rather then shy away from them, go at them head on!

God Bless

Time for Change

Selfish people are always worrying about how much food costs. They tell you, "Eat and drink," but they don't really mean it. Proverbs 23:7

Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, your right.

Here is something to think about. Is there some idea you think you can't do? Or something you think just won't go your way? I think we probably all have some kind of fear.

If we live by our own fear then we become trapped in a rut, never moving from day to the next. If we stop risking things, if we stop making decision based on maybe one bad decision then we become nothing.

Sure we sometimes make the wrong decision, and we have to pay to consequences for that. But we can't just let that bring us down, we have to learn from the experience and move on.

The was was an old prison on America that had been used for hundreds of years to house inmates. Over the time no prisoner attempted escape as it was thought to be impossible. There were heavy iron doors with locks, there were thick metal bars on the window, so it would natural scare any inmate who went there.

It was demolished some years back to make way for a better building. As the prisoners began to demolish the building it was discovered that the walls were simply paper, they had been painted the colour of iron. Had one of the prisoner be shoved hard against a wall that prison may not stood the test of time.

If you don't try then you will never know.

God bless

Nothing Greater the Love

So these things continue for ever: faith, hope and Love. And the greatest of these is Love. 1 Corinthians 13:13

"Those who receive your love today will be much more interest in hearing about your faith tomorrow."

Think about that for a moment. What does it mean?

If you were sent as a missionary somewhere, say Christ sent you to the poorest part of Africa, would you talk to the people about faith as soon as you got there? Or would you show them love first?

I think as Christians we think by preaching to people about Gods love is us talking about our own love. This, I think, is where we make one of the biggest mistakes.

I have worked in retail for many years, and I worked with an amazing team, I never once peached about God, but they all knew I was an active Christian. Sometimes I would be asked about my faith, as they were always interested on how it tied in with things in my life.

So to be yourself, and become a part of the community you join, and the people around you will want to know more about you. But first you have to show them love.

A part of the promise made by people in Scout Movement is '...to think of others before myself...' by doing this, we are taking the time to find out about others, then in turn they will want to find out about us.

Showing love is being interested in the other person. Talking of faith is being interested in ourselves.

God Bless