Waiting For A Visit (2)

[the waiting Room]
Originally uploaded by bass_nroll

by Mark Carey

REALITY AND TRUTH

Some years ago the Lord spoke to me about reality and truth. The reality is that things don’t always go our way, that circumstances sometimes are against us, or at the very least are not encouraging. We suffer. It is no use trying to leave reality behind as it is the circumstances we live in. But truth breaks into reality. The truth is that God intervenes, redeems, restores and revives – he can’t help doing these kinds of things. Jesus teaches us that as we hold to his teachings then we will know the truth and the truth will set us free (John 8:31-32). Reality is not the circumstances that we live under but rather the circumstances we live over because we have the truth. Here’s the truth: God is going to visit your circumstances, your reality…so get ready!

OUR PLANS AND HIS

It is funny sometimes to look back on plans we had and see how God clearly had a different agenda. Proverbs 19:21 is a favourite verse of mine: ‘many are the plans in a man’s heart but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails’. It looks like Naomi had a plan about going back to Israel and what to do about her daughters-in-law. She was probably expecting to return to Bethlehem and live some sort of hopeless half-life on the back of charity from her distant relatives. In effect she would have a roof over her head but an extremely limited future. God had other ideas. She was also expecting that both young women would do what she suggested and return to their mothers’ homes. Again, God had other ideas. 

The plan changed radically because Ruth decided she was not going to let go of Naomi. We are told that ‘Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her’ (1:14). A cross-reference to Deuteronomy 10:20 helps us understand that these words are not just about holding on to Naomi, they are also about holding fast to the Lord. If she went back to her people she would have to worship their gods, but through Naomi she has discovered Yahweh and there is no going back. For Naomi, returning home with Ruth was the one thing that meant the possibility, however remote, of a good future. When you are in despair, struggling and at your wits end, the gift of God may well be a person of faith to come alongside you. Naomi didn’t plan for that, but God did.

This material copyright New Wine Magazine and used with permission

Spirit Signals

Image by Roo Reynolds via Flickr

The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit...
1 Corinthians 2:14

Paul says: 'The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit...they are foolishness to him...because they are spiritually discerned.' Pastor Jon Walker writes: 'Spirit warnings alert you to impending danger. A friend of mine was driving towards a green light when he was strongly prompted to hit his brakes. As he did so a truck ran a red light. Had it not been for my friend's instant obedience he'd probably have been killed. Spirit 'stop signs' red-flag you not to go somewhere. A dog I owned...was used to being on a lead and when I took him to a neighbour's field to run, I'd simply say "No" when he approached a place he shouldn't go. He'd done nothing wrong, and my warning wasn't a rebuke; it was a caution for his own protection. Spirit timing is God telling you the time is not right. In university I planned to buy a computer through a discount programme. When I turned in my paperwork, however, they told me it had been discontinued. I was very angry at God. Two months later the university reopened the programme [offering] upgraded models bundled with software that cost extra two months ago; the whole package was cheaper than the previous one...Turns out God knows what he's doing!'

Be sensitive to Spirit signals. Trust God's Spirit to guide you in the decisions and details of your life. Keep a list of the times He has prompted you; it'll sensitise you and strengthen your resolve to obey. Remember, God's promptings always line up with His Word; even when they don't line up with your ideas.

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

Skywatch #50

Great Chafield, originally uploaded by duopastorale.

Waiting For A Visit (1)

Waiting on the World to Change
Originally uploaded by FotoRita [Allstar maniac]

by Mark Carey

WHERE IS GOD WHEN WE HAVE LITTLE HOPE LEFT?

‘Everyone did as he saw fit’ (Jdg 21:25). So ends the book of Judges – a statement that showed that Israel, even with some great and anointed leaders, was failing in character and falling away from the ways of the living God. This is the context for the book of Ruth, in which we see Naomi’s husband Elimelech making the fateful decision to leave the Promised Land and go to shelter in Moab. He did as he saw fit. But as so often is the case, decisions made in our own strength and understanding may be seen as good but aren’t necessarily God. While the book of Ruth starts with a bad decision, the rest of the story is of the redemptive action of God. He is good and he rescues us!

GOD INTERVENES

Naomi, having lost all the breadwinners in her family, plans on returning home to Bethlehem. She had heard that ‘the Lord has come to the aid of his people…’ (Ruth 1:6). There is now food where there was famine. In some translations of the Bible we find the word ‘visit’ to describe the Lord coming to ‘the aid of his people’. In the Old Testament the word used here has the sense of divine visitation, the intervention of the living God either in judgement or mercy. In this case we are being told that the divine activity of God is such that his visit means the end of famine and the bread now available is regarded as God’s gift to his people. The story of God in the book of Ruth is that he visits his people. Divine intervention is guaranteed because we are in relationship with the living God. In our lives, when we struggle or fail to see things coming together, it is never a matter of ‘if’ he’s coming, it’s much more about ‘when’ he’s coming. I sometimes wonder if we are really expecting the visitation of the Lord? Do we really believe that he will come or are we, like Elimelech, moving on too quickly, unwilling to exercise the discipline of waiting for the visit of God?

Mark Carey leads St Mary’s Harrogate. He and his wife Penny

are on the leadership team of the North and East Summer

Conference.

This material copyright New Wine Magazine and used with permission

Happiness Keys (2)

Rush Hour at Paddington
Originally uploaded by Edward B.

Blessed...are those who hear the word...and obey

Luke 11:28

Jesus said, '[Real] life does not consist in the abundance of possessions' (Luke 12:15 NRS) but by how you live. That's why it's always wise to:

1) Challenge yourself. Examine how you spend your leisure time. After a long day it's easy to 'veg out' in front of the TV, but you'll be happier if you are physically and mentally active. Go for a walk, play with your kids, take time to read God's Word and pray, even when you don't feel like it. Jesus said that in order to follow Him, '"...he must deny himself..."' (Luke 9:23 NIV).

2) Reach out to others. The smallest good deed is worth more than the most grandiose intention, so if you want to help yourself, help others. Not only will it make you feel better, being around other people who are giving of themselves keeps you connected to a larger cause. The enemy doesn't mind you talking about your faith as long as you don't practice it, whereas God never teaches us anything without giving us an opportunity to put it to work. That's why Jesus said, 'Blessed...are those who hear the word...and obey.'

3) Be more patient. A man who rode the ferry to work prided himself on his punctuality. But one day he overslept. Fearing he'd be in trouble with his boss, he raced to the dock only to see the boat six feet out from the terminal. Taking a leap, he landed on the deck. Smiling, the captain said, 'Great jump! But if you'd waited another minute we'd have docked and you could've walked on.' Don't be in such a hurry; give it a little time. Patience can overcome any problem (Proverbs 25:15).

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

Weekend Quiz Results

Well done to Jenny & Steve who correctly named the pop groups in Saturday's post: 

ABBA

The Beatles

Elvis

Cliff Richard & The Shadows

Today I Choose

But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD
Joshua 24:15

Weekend Quiz

Last weekend I visited Lacock and did the Scarecrow Trail. This year the theme was 'Pop Groups', although not all the groups are strictly pop. How many can you get right? Let's have some answers! No prizes I'm afraid but plenty of linky love!

Skywatch #49

Little Chafield Wiltshire, originally uploaded by duopastorale.

Why is it that I find clouds so endlessly fascinating? On my recent trip to Wiltshire I just kept looking up and saying, 'there's so much sky!' There's something wonderful about being able to see right to the horizon and 'seeing' that other world beyond. Surely 'the heavens declare the glory of God'.

Learn To Live Like Jesus

Image via Wikipedia

Learn from me...and you will find rest for your souls
Matthew 11:29

You'll notice that unlike us, Jesus didn't suffer from the fear of failure. That's because He never entertained the thought that He couldn't do something His Father had already assured Him He could. And He didn't suffer from a fear of lack either. Even though He lived a simple life He was responsible for supporting Himself and a team of others. How did He do it? He prayed a lot, and stayed in sync with His heavenly Father. Consequently He knew how to catch fish when they weren't biting, or find tax money in a fish's mouth when He needed it (yes, Jesus paid His taxes!). Now God may not provide for you in similar fashion, but He's promised to take care of you (1 Peter 5:7). Today Jesus is saying to you, '"Come to me...learn from me...and you will find rest for your souls [emotions and mind]..."' (v.28-29)

Stress is brought on by our need to know everything ahead of time; to be in control. Even after we pray and supposedly turn the situation over to God, we develop a 'backup plan' in case He doesn't handle things the way we think He should. Do you do that? You don't put your money into a bank then stay awake all night worrying about it, do you? Have at least that much confidence in God. Each time you begin the downward spiral of 'How? What? When? Where?' stop and give it back to God. Not the little God of your understanding, but the big God whose track record speaks for itself, whose faithfulness never fails, and who has earned the right to ask you, '"Is any thing too hard for [me]?..."' (Genesis 18:14). In other words; learn how to live like Jesus.

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

Confusion To Enlightenment

Image by kms ! via Flickr

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength...Ephesians 1:17-19

For so many of the characters in the Easter story, confusion reigned. The disciples had been so full of expectation only to end up disappointed and terrified for their lives. Two of them decided to go back to Emmaus. As far as they could see there was nothing left for them in Jerusalem. The story for them had come to an end and they had to pick up their lives again. Little did they know what was in store for them! A stranger met them and explained the Scriptures concerning Jesus Christ. However it was not until bread was broken that it was revealed to them that this was indeed Jesus himself. Suddenly that spirit of revelation was given to them and their confusion disappeared. This is what Paul prays for and indeed what we should be seeking, a revelation of this amazing hope and all those glorious riches we have been given. Jesus is risen and I believe He wants to meet us in our confusion and unbelief. He wants to open the Scriptures to us, walk with us, eat with us and to enlighten our hearts. Come Lord Jesus!

Easter Sonrise

A very happy and blessed Easter to all my blogging friends, wherever you are in the world! May you know His wonderful risen Presence today and always.

Good Friday

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Colossians 1:15-20

Learn To Be Content

at the monastery
Originally uploaded by *Lele (in and out)

I have learned the secret of being content...
Philippians 4:12

Sometimes contentment means:

1) Learning to be happy with less. A hard-charging executive decided to spend a few days in a monastery. 'I hope your stay is a blessed one,' said the monk who showed him to his cell. 'If you need anything let us know. We'll teach you how to live without it.' Happiness isn't getting what you want, it's enjoying what God's given you. Paul said he had learned to be content, '...whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.' (Philippians 4:12-13 NIV)

2) Reminding yourself things could be worse. Snoopy was lying in his dog house one Thanksgiving Day, mumbling about being stuck with dog food while all those humans got to be inside with the turkey and gravy and pumpkin pie. 'Of course, it could have been worse,' he finally reflected, 'I could have been born a turkey.' Reminding yourself 'It could be worse' can be a powerful developer of contentment.

3) Understanding that what you seek is spiritual, not material. Paul says to beware of '...greed, which is idolatry' (Colossians 3:5 NIV). Our problem isn't just that we want more, it's that the condition which underlies all our wanting is that we really want God. As Augustine said, 'Our souls will never rest, until they rest in Thee.' Why would God let us feel at home, when this world is not our home? Our dissatisfaction, if we let it, can sharpen our spiritual hunger and cause us to pray, 'your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven' (Matthew 6:10 NIV).

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

Happiness Keys (1)

Image by Dawn Endico via Flickr

If you know these things...
John 13:17

If you want God's best, don't just think about how to invest your money, think about how to invest your life. Jesus said, 'If you know these things...happy...are you if you... [do them].' Living this way means:

1) Making time for friends and loved ones. 'Let no one seek his own, but each...the other's well-being' (1Corinthians 10:24 NKJV). George Eliot wrote: 'Oh, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person; having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but to pour them all out, just as they are, chaff and grain together, knowing that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then, with the breath of kindness, blow the rest away.'

2) Giving thanks. If you can't be grateful for what God has given you, look around you and be grateful for what He's protected you from. The enemy doesn't have to steal anything from you, just make you take it for granted. 'From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another' (John 1:16 NIV). The excitement of a new car or a salary increase soon passes, but anytime you stop to count your blessings you start feeling better.

3) Practicing contentment. A gardener who'd tried everything to get rid of dandelions wrote to the Department of Agriculture for help. 'What can I try next?' he asked. 'Try getting used to them!' came the reply. In life, you get what you focus on! That's why Paul writes, '...Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things' (Philippians 4:8 NAS).

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