Category Archives: Random Devotional Thoughts

Random Devotional Thoughts

The Storms of Life

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      We seem to have been attending quite a few funerals in the last few weeks. In each case it has been a man who was taken, leaving his wife to weather the storm that his death was bringing. It reminded me of different times when we too, have been faced with a storm and a decision to make and haven’t known which way to take. Then when things haven’t worked out as we wanted them to, we berate ourselves, saying we have made a mistake.

    But you know, there was a time when the disciples of Jesus were caught in a big storm. They were seasoned sailors and they must have wondered how this came about….why didn’t they see the warning signs? Yet their Master had told them to go across the lake and they had done just what He said. Why then, had this storm come upon them?

      Storms come to us to teach us lessons that we would otherwise never learn. So when the disciples experienced the worst storm of their life, they had been sent across the lake by Jesus Christ. They were experienced fishermen who could read the weather signs and knew how to handle these sudden storms that whipped up the lake surface into a frenzy. Jesus knew all this, and He knew a storm was coming up that would test them to the maximum.  They hadn’t made a mistake that brought this upon them, they were there for a purpose. Remember this….Jesus Christ knows the storm we are in at any given time. He could have stopped the storm coming to the disciples, but He wanted to show them His power. He knows the storm that I may be in right now, but He wants me to go through it so He can show me His power and refine the dross out of my life and strengthen the faith I have in Him.

The Lord speaks to us in these three ways …. In the storm….He comes to us through the storm, walking on the water…”I will never leave you”, He says. Through the storm… He reminds us that He is there with us…”don’t be afraid”, He says, “trust Me”. The storm within you….often when these storms come, they attack us from the inside. We are all in a turmoil because of circumstances beyond our control, and wonder where we are going to turn next.

Don’t be afraid of being afraid….storms always have an end. There will be a period of calm when it is over and then another one may come but because we have proved our Lord’s help with the first one, we have confidence within the next one. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33) We cannot stop these storms coming, but we have confidence in the outcome because we have weathered the first one with God’s help!

Remember….He is the Lord of all our storms.

Random Devotional Thoughts

Disaster Strikes

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     We have been going through the book of Samuel in our Bible Study, and there are many lessons to be learned and that we can apply to ourselves. So lets read these thoughts about this passage and apply it ….

As time went by, Samuel was able to reveal God’s word to the people, and all Israel accepted him as he took over Eli’s priestly duties. But things didn’t always go smoothly, and the Philistines began to harass the edges of Israel. We notice this in our own lives….if we neglect God’s Word, the world will begin to creep into our lives and harass us even more…..      The first thing the leaders of the land began to do was to blame God….”Why did God allow this to happen?” they asked. Instead of seeking God’s advice, they did what they thought was a good idea…they went out to battle taking the Ark of the Covenant from its resting place which they should never have done. Eli didn’t like the idea, but had no power to stop them as his sons were the main instigators, going along with it.      

   The trouble was that the people looked on the Ark as some sort of mascot, rather than as God’s resting place….they were merely following a form, rather than having their hearts towards God Himself. This is another thing we have to be careful of….how much do we read God’s Word for ourselves, or do we just open it in church once a week as a matter of form?

    The enemy recognised the Ark as God’s presence and doubled their efforts in battle, eventually overcoming Israel and killing many of them in the process including Eli’s two sons. They also took the Ark for themselves as some sort of magical talisman to add to their collection of idols. The trouble was, that this was exactly all that it was at that time  because Israel had .left God out. of their lives. We need to follow the Lord for ourselves and not just follow a form or ritual for there to be any spiritual strength in our lives. The enemy will have the upper hand in our lives for sure if this is all we are doing.

   The chapter ends in further disaster as when Eli heard the news, he collapsed and broke his neck, and his daughter-in-law went into early labour and died giving birth. So the prophecies that God had given Samuel as a child all came to pass.

When we leave God’s Word out of our lives, We cannot expect to spiritually thrive, God acts for us as we  respond, Following  Him we form a strong bond.

Random Devotional Thoughts

Near Enough is not Good Enough!

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      We were working on a new boat that was being built, doing the planing of the hull. My arms were getting tired, and  I felt I had done enough. So I said, “That’s near enough, I’m finishing”. My brother in law looked at me and said, “Near enough is not good enough!”

So I kept going.

   But you know, that comment has stayed with me for over fifty years, and I find that it applies to so many things in life. There is the satisfaction of seeing a good job completed, because near enough is not good enough. Near enough doesn’t guarantee a lasting  finish to whatever job you are doing.  In sewing a garment, near enough doesn’t make it fit properly; and in putting a jig-saw puzzle together, a piece that fits near enough without slotting in perfectly, does not make a good picture.

   It is the same with spiritual things. Near enough is not good enough, and as far as eternal things go, near enough will not suffice. Many people  miss out because they have thought they were good enough, and that this was near enough, but they have forgotten that God has the last say. He says that ALL have sinned and come short of His glory, and our “near enough” does not guarantee a place in His heavenly home. So let’s make sure that our “near enough” becomes the perfect finish and then we will have the confidence we need to meet our Maker.

Random Devotional Thoughts

In the End.

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    Last week our preacher talked about the beginning of things. This week, he skipped to the end of time, and talked about the end of things we know. For us, this was very pertinent, as two of our very good friends have passed away with in a month. Both were very ready to go; they both knew the end was near for them.

    It is very comforting for those who are left behind, to know that they are safe with the Lord. But what about those acquaintances who don’t have this hope or confidence? They must think it is only wishful thinking for those who have this confidence. They hope with not much confidence, that maybe there is something in this, but that no-one can be sure until the time comes.

    It is a nice thought, that all man’s troubles come to an end when that time comes, but stop and think about it all for a minute. What makes them think that they will be happy among this large crowd that is all singing praises to the God of Heaven, when they wouldn’t be seen in a church while alive today? How would they be able to stand hearing all the worship being given to Someone Whose name they use as a swear word so carelessly now? And what makes them think they have a right to enter the home of One Who they have never met and don’t know?

    But it doesn’t have to be like this you know. It IS possible for anyone to get to know the God of Heaven in this life. But it involves having to humble oneself and to confess that we have been in the wrong, and deserve nothing from Him. God Himself came to earth in the Person of Jesus Christ and took man’s punishment on Himself so that it would be possible for man to fellowship with Him before that day of departure from this earth occurs. If we do this sincerely, we CAN be confident that we will enjoy the life to come, and feel at home there!!

The Bible tells us in 1 John 1:9 that “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”.

Random Devotional Thoughts

In the Beginning

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Our preacher pointed out this morning, how that in the very beginning, God made not only creatures and the environment for them to live in, but His final crowning effort was in making mankind. Man was different to the animals, in that man can think and talk. Man can create and invent which animals can’t do. We see how domesticated animals seem to love human companionship, but wild animals keep as far away from humans as possible.

But God’s desire was to have someone He could have fellowship with, and when man was made, we are told that God breathed into him the breath of life. This is not merely being able to breathe, but it means that man was given not only a body and a soul, but also a spirit. This is the part of the human that can communicate with his Maker. God saw everything that He had made up unto this time, and it was good. But when He made man in His own image, His creation work was complete, and everything that He saw then, was VERY good!

In what ways is man made in God’s image? It sounds presumptuous to say the least, to say this! But think about these things….God created all things, and people are creative in the things they can make and invent. God wrote books, and has given people the ability to do this also. God wants fellowship, and people need fellowship with each other. Not only that, but people can respond to God’s call for this fellowship. People have a desire to worship something….God wants them to worship Him. In fact, this is the primary reason for man’s existence. Yet so many people turn their backs on Him and worship everything else but Him!

Random Devotional Thoughts

What is Life?

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We had a visit the other day from our youngest grand-daughter with the latest twig on our family tree….a little boy, barely a month old. How small he was!! And yet everything that this child is going to grow into, already has the seeds within him. Not only that, but this little child has a soul that will live for ever! No matter what age the body lives to, the soul is there for eternity, and it is up to the parents to teach and train the child the way he should go, to enable him to make the right choices in life.  What an awesome responsibility, and one that so many people take so lightly!     Life has a beginning at conception and then grows as the child is born and takes its first breath. This life does not end at death, it just begins! What we have been on earth lays the foundation for what we will be in the next life…just as Jesus said, “What we bind on earth will be bound in heaven.”(Matthew 18:18)  This life is just the beginning of eternity. For every baby that takes a breath,  exists for ever, for eternity….life on earth is just a dot, and what this child does with his life is where his eternity will be spent!

Jesus said….”I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly!”  ( John 10:10)  and… “This is life eternal…that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ  Who You sent.” (John 17:3)

Random Devotional Thoughts

How Much is Your Soul Worth?

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       Every now and then we get a pamphlet in the mail asking if we are thinking of selling our house. They say that they have clients wanting to buy in our area! They will come and give us a free appraisal of our property, they say, hoping we will take them up on it.

     They say that it is every young married couple’s dream to own their own home, and if we manage to save up enough for our deposit, it is a real thrill when we are finally given the key to our new place!     We say we own this or that. But whatever we own, really owns us! If we have a car we have to service it regularly. If we own a house we have to keep it maintained or it loses its value. If we buy a lawn mower, we have to use it or the place soon looks untidy.   . As time goes by and we might need to move away, we put our house up for sale. We wonder then how much our house is worth, but it is only worth as much as someone will pay for it!

    Maybe we only own something small like a mobile phone. It has to used responsibly or else it controls us! How many people do we see walking down the street not watching where they are going because their fingers are busily going on their gadget. They feel lost without having it in their pocket or hand. We don’t own these things, they own us!

    But you know,  we all have something that is worth much more than any house or gadget.  This is our soul, that we are each given at our first breath. This is the part of a person that lives for ever….every new born baby has this in them, and it will never die….our bodies may die, but our souls never will.

    The Bible asks the question….”What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?”     Nothing in this world, whether it be a house or a car; a mower or a phone is to be compared with a person’s soul. These “things” only last a short while….they either break down or become out-dated, but our soul will last forever!

    Let’s make sure that we take the time to think these things through and make the right decision about what we put first in our life.    How much is your soul valued at? What is it worth?  We are told in the Bible about a man who gathered as much of this world’s goods that he could. Most people would have classed him as a very successful and wealthy man. But one night, God said, “This night your soul is required of you, and what is going to happen to all your wealth now?”     We never know when  some disease will overtake us, or if we might have a sudden car accident that will result in our death, so it pays to look into these things and get ready for the “trip” at the end of our life! We can find out all we need to know from God’s Word, the Bible, and the best place to start reading it is the Gospel of John, the fourth book in the New Testament.

Random Devotional Thoughts

Missing Out!!

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    I had been having a lot of trouble with the files on my computer. For some reason, they kept disappearing….I would put an afternoon in working on one, click on close and when the sign came up asking to save it or not, I would click on that and then turn it off. Next time I would open it, it would present me with an empty file! 

    It was most frustrating to say the least, and in the end I would save it under another name to keep it. I was able to find out in the end, that I should save it before clicking the off button, and so far there has been no further trouble!

    It reminds me of what it must be like in Christian things….to spend  your life going to church, listening to the sermons, maybe helping out in different ways, and even to call God, “Lord”, and yet to not know Him in a personal way or  to be able to call Him “Our Father” from personal experience.

     There will be those who get to death’s door, and not have Him to take them through. There is a parable in Matthew 7:21-23, where the Lord talks about those who get to Heaven’s gate, and God says “Depart from Me! I never knew you!” They will reply saying, “But Lord, we’ve cast out demons in Your name, and prophesied too, as well as done many  other wonderful things!” But God will still say , “Depart from Me! I never knew you!”

    So it pays to take stock of oneself, to see just where we are at with Him. If we have our special time alone with Him, reading His Word (the Bible) and talking with Him each day,  then we know that we know Him, and that He will welcome us into His eternal home when the time comes for us to leave this earth.