Try God's Way!

Image by Rickydavid via Flickr

Trust in the Lord...lean not on your own understanding
Proverbs 3:5

Ever watch someone learning to get around on crutches? What a struggle! Sometimes you find them trying to balance on one leg, or resting a hundred feet down the street, their hands raw and sore. Leaning on crutches can be exhausting; so can leaning on your own understanding. If you want things to go badly for you exclude God. Try working things out using only your own best judgement. When you hit a brick wall, try something else. When that gets you nowhere, resort to logic, then panic. The truth is some of us act as though we're addicted to anxiety. We've been living this way so long, we're not capable of seeing it or acknowledging it. When one worry is gone we put another one in its place. We have a line of them at our door, because the sign reads 'All welcome!' It's like we enjoy entertaining them, but Jesus said they're a waste of life and energy. They keep you so focused on what you need, or what you're afraid of losing, that you don't have time to enjoy what you have (Matthew 6:25). That's no way to live! Instead of worrying, begin living by this Scripture:

a) 'Do not worry about anything...'

b) '...pray and ask God for everything you need...'

c) '...always giving thanks...'

d) '...God's peace...will keep your hearts and minds...' (Philippians 4:6-7 NCV).

Go ahead; try God's way!

Used with permission from UCB Word for Today. Free issues are available here for the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Winter Wonderland

Ice skating at the Natural History Museum in South Kensington

Skywatch #37

Hounslow Heath, originally uploaded by duopastorale.

I've been having great fun this week with ICE, a free photo stitching software from Microsoft. Wow, something they actually give away! Click on the logo for more skywatch photos.

Look!

Image via Wikipedia

Look, I am about to send you grain, new wine, and olive oil. You will be satiated with them, and I will no longer make you a disgrace among the nations...Don't be afraid, land; rejoice and be glad, for the LORD has done great things...Children of Zion, rejoice and be glad in the LORD your God, because He gives you the autumn rain for your vindication. He sends showers for you, both autumn and spring rain as before...The threshing floors will be full of grain, and the vats will overflow with new wine and olive oil. I will repay you for the years that the swarming locust ate, the young locust, the destroying locust, and the devouring locust— My great army that I sent against you. You will have plenty to eat and be satisfied. You will praise the name of Yahweh your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. My people will never again be put to shame.
Joel 2

The Bible is full of images of oil. The oil of anointing, blessing, joy, the Holy Spirit. Oil is healing, nourishing, bringing light and life to us. As we wait this Advent for His coming we can be joyful in hope and sure that 'He has dealt wondrously' with us and will continue to do so. Look! He is coming and your time of darkness is coming to an end.

Want A Second Chance At Life?

Skywatch #36

Blue Solitude, originally uploaded by duopastorale.

Do you know how the clouds hang poised,
those wonders of him who is perfect in knowledge?
Job 37:16

This is a shot from the Summer because I needed cheering up. Blue sky always does the trick. We are experiencing a cold Winter here (about 2-3 degrees during the day) which has come as a shock as the last few years have been very mild. What is your Winter like?

Be Still

Blessed Mother Teresa and child
Originally uploaded by Ted Abbott

Be still and know that I am God
Psalm 46:10

During some of my Advent reading I came across this story about Mother Teresa and had to share it with you as it resonated with me so powerfully and also brought a large smile to my face. Sometimes we evengelicals need to learn from such wisdom, for surely the truth will always set us free!

Former CBS anchor Dan Rather found himself unprepared for a
television interview with Mother Teresa. Ron Mehl described the encounter this
way: "When you pray," asked Dan, "what do you say to God?" "I don't say
anything," she replied. "I listen." Dan tried another tack. "Well, okay... when
God speaks to you, then, what does He say?" "He doesn't say anything. He
listens." Dan looked bewildered. For an instant, he didn't know what to say.
"And if you don't understand that," Mother Teresa added, "I can't explain it to
you".

Used with permission from UCB Word for Today. Free issues are available here for the UK and Republic of Ireland.