Never alone

 Never Alone

I like to have the radio on in the car when I'm driving and today I flicked on to Radio 2 because the usual Radio 4 was annoying. A song was played which was really pretty awful but the lyrics stood out. It was one of those songs with a very restricted melody, yelled out by some diva, and with few words. However, the words made me think. 

The gist of the lyrics was something like: when it all goes wrong and my friends abandon me, it will be OK because you're there by my side.

How wonderful it must be to have a relationship with someone strong in whom you can trust so absolutely!

Well, of course, Christians have just such a friend in Jesus. 

Deuteronomy 3:16 says this: 

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

I have some fantastic, wise, good, strong friends but they are all human. Instead, I know where I will look when things get tough - I will look to the my Creator, Sustainer, Counselor, Saviour, the Only One who gave His life as a sacrifice so I could be with Him for eternity, the One in whose love and faithfulness I can absolutely trust, even if I can't see a reason for the situation I'm in. 

Every Blessing

💕

It's all about Jesus

 A long, long time ago, when I was in my late teens and a new Christian, there was a song we used to sing where the first line was "May I introduce you to a friend?"

This was a bit revolutionary as we were emerging from a time of church and faith being all about knowing the scriptures and behaving according to the rules - many of them invented by the church leaders. Does that sound familiar?

Matthew 10:39 says this:

"All who seek to live apart from me will lose it all. But those who let go of their lives for my sake and surrender it all to me will discover true life!"

This was my verse for today in the Bible app and I immediately thought of that old song, though I can't remember the rest of the words. "Let me introduce you to a friend" is what we need to be saying to those who don't know our incredible Lord and Saviour. 

We probably all know people who have tried Christianity and found it doesn't work for them - but have they actually met Jesus? 

I am aware that there are some who meet Him and find that their love for the world overcomes all else and they walk away, but there are others who might have only ever been introduced to an ideological sort of good-lifestyle type of Christianity which can never work. Where does it talk about people having the form of faith but lacking the power therof? Fallen nature and the enemy of our souls will always win against a watered-down, do-good, be-nice type of Christianity. 

It has to be all about Jesus and we need to be introducing our friends and neighbours to this Friend above all Friends and then they will be able to make a real choice. 

Then we will be able to join in with Paul, Silas and Timothy: 1 Thessalonians 1

Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:Grace and peace to you.

We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labour prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia – your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead – Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

Be Blessed

Friends

 

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 

"Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken".

Friendship is so very important. We all need friends to stand alongside, to laugh with, to cry with, to pray with, to share our deepest thoughts, to hold us accountable, to correct us. We don't need the sort of friends who only massage our egos!

So my questions to me today are:

• Am I being a good friend to those whom God has brought me alongside?

• Do I look only for friends who are like me?

• Am I honest and open with those who I would call my friends?

• Do I welcome both positive and negative input from my friends?

• Do I make enough effort to keep in touch?

Of course this all, also applies to our friendship with God who is the best friend we will ever have. 

 In 1 Cor 16:13-14 Paul gives these final words to the friends in his letter:

Remember to stay alert and hold firmly to all that you believe. Be mighty and full of courage. Let love and kindness be the motivation behind all that you do.

We have a choice whether or not to pursue our friendship, our relationship with our friends and with God. These verses remind us that it takes effort on our part.

And finally, love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength, and love your neighbour as yourself. 

Welcome to my blog

Isaiah 40:31

But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

I rejoice at the truth of these words and, indeed, this verse has seen me through many trials of life (many of them of my own making!). 

This blog follows on from an earlier one called "While I was running" - where big thoughts about God were posted. The title came from The Apostle Paul's discussions about running the race (the Christian Life) to completion. While I was out running this morning I heard that small inner voice saying "Why be content with running? What about flying?" - which reminded me of this verse. 

In our contemporary Western, 1st World Society the culture is such that we are taught to seek out those things which benefit, amuse, comfort, and enrich us. We are encouraged to seek out the perfect lifestyle for us, this to include where we live, how we dress, the career we pursue, the activities for the children (plus necessary accessories), holiday destinations, garden design...............etc etc etc. We pursue our comfort.  

It is all too easy to come to our Christian life with the same expectations and expect God to have the same view. So when it doesn't go our way and things get difficult through whatever cause it can be all to easy to ask why. We pray for our comfort to return because we think it's our prerogative. 

So why have Christians through the ages suffered so much persecution? Does God not care about our comfort and peace of mind?

James has an intriguing and, some may think, puzzling answer. 

James 1:2

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds

Which brings us back to trusting in the Lord, whatever and whenever things get tough (and all the rest of the time as well). He's building character and perseverance. He's developing your innate, God-given gifts for use in His Kingdom, He's demonstrating His sovereignty. He will show you that peace is not the absence of war, it's the presence of God, Prince of Peace. He will show you that joy is not mere happiness, it's the very presence of our joyful God. He will show you that love is not a feeling but a choice, and one which He himself will empower by His presence. 

In conclusion for now - let us trust in the Lord and fly, run, walk with Him, according to His perfect plan for us. 

Every blessing