Monthly Archives: December 2018

Morning Musings

Happy New Year!

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   The year 2018 has gone for ever, and on everyone’s lips this  first morning of 2019, are the words, “Happy New Year!” This may be the wish of each one of us, but for many it is only an empty hope. Some already know that this year will be one of the saddest one in their lives…. those who have loved ones  with a terminal disease can only look forwards with dread for the immediate future.

    Others of course, look forwards with high expectations…..a forthcoming wedding, a new baby to come into the world, a big trip already booked….and rightly so, but are we guarded against the unexpected shocks ahead? A broken marriage in the family? A tragic car accident? The disappointment of broken friendships? A bad report from the doctor?

    No-one is immune from these things, as they are all part of normal life. Not only those things that are unexpected, the normal downhill spiral in age and health that all come our way with time.

   For those who know the Lord, we have the added assurance that He will be with us through all these experiences, both good and bad. It is no use blaming God for the bad things that happen to us. Of course He could have averted them in our path, and how many times He has! But how else would we learn if we did not have to depend more heavily on Him at these times?

   Remember the time that Jesus told His disciples to go across the lake ahead of Him? He knew that they would meet this tremendous storm half way across. He also knew how He would cope with it for them and show His power to them. How else would they have seen that without this difficulty?

   It is just the same for us today. So let’s look forwards to this year of 2019 with whatever the Lord has in store for us with confidence and assurance, knowing that whatever happens can be for our best as we trust in Him.

Daily Devotionals

Waiting…..

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Have you ever thought about the word “wait” and all that it means?  How the word “wait” is actually a double sided word? When we go into a restaurant, the “waiter” comes to us for our order, and then we have to “wait” while it is being put together. The waiter brings it to us and then “waits” on our needs while we enjoy the meal.

One of the hardest things in the world is to wait for something. In this modern world, everything is expected to be instant….everything is faster and smaller and more disposable as the next model comes along.

We read in the Bible that before the Lord can bless a person, He has to “wait” on them. He waits for them to turn and call on Him so He can be gracious to them and bless them. This is the way He waits on His people, by giving them His blessings and all that they need as they ask Him.

On the other hand, as we wait on Him for the answers to our prayers, we are blessed as we see how He works in our lives to give us the answer that we need. Those who do not turn to Him, can never know His blessings, any more than a person can expect a meal at a restaurant without paying for it.

Isaiah 30, verse 18…..    And thus will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.

 

Random Devotional Thoughts

The Unexpected

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The summer holidays are looming around the corner. Whether we like it or not, there are some people who will go away from home and not return.  We do not know who it will be; we certainly do not think it will be ourselves! But no matter how careful we are on the roads, the unexpected can happen at any time.

We have had two unexpected deaths in the last two weeks in our small community, and neither were due to a car crash. Both people were in younger age brackets, and both were accidental, sudden tragedies.

One was a fit man in his late forties, who was taking his young son to the local BMX circuit for an afternoon of fun and exercise. He sent his boy ahead of him and then set off behind him. As he went over one of the jumps, something went wrong and he flipped off his bike landing on his head, and breaking his neck. The doctors said that if he had survived, he would have had no quality of life at all. Small comfort to his family.

Then a woman in her thirties was walking down the street towards the local park. As she was going down the slope, she noticed a car seemed to be stuck on the verge and was revving its motor up trying to get out. She skirted around the back of it and at the very moment she was directly behind it, the driver’s foot slipped and with a jolt the car reversed into her, squashing her against a brick wall  behind her. She didn’t stand a chance and died at the scene before the ambulance could get to her.

Neither of these people knew when they left home that they wouldn’t be returning that day, or ever again. These incidents show us how uncertain life is. We aren’t promised tomorrow. We aren’t even promised the end of the current day. The only moment we have is NOW.

The only certain thing about life is that it is going to end one day. Whenever there is a birth, there will be a death. But no-one knows when.

There is a verse in the Bible that says, “Teach me to number my days (consider my mortality); so that I may live wisely” (Psalm 90:12) 

   Let’s make sure that we consider these things and be ready to meet our Maker, no matter how suddenly or unexpectedly it may happen.

 

Morning Musings

Choices, Choices

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    We all have to make choices in life; whether it is business, family life or just in playing games. Our choice today, determines our destiny tomorrow.  I was reading recently, “Enter through the narrow gate, because the gate is wide and the way is spacious that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. But the gate is narrow and the way is difficult that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

As I read these verses from Matthew 7:13-14, it made me realise that every person is confronted with the gates of choices in their life. One gate is wide and the way looks easy with crowds of people going along in a downward direction, while the other gate is small, with a narrow path beyond leading upwards and not many people going that way. But what a difference the end result is! One leads to destruction and the other one leads to life.

Our Lord tells people to seek to enter the narrow gate leading to life but this gate is too narrow to allow any baggage through. There is no room for the suitcase of possessions or the bag of good works. There is not even space to squeeze through with the backpack of pride, to say nothing of towing in the trolley of sinful ways and habits! All these have to be left on the outside of the narrow gate….there is only room for the under clothing of contrition and a broken spirit with confession of our need. All our good deeds and self righteousnesses are nothing more than filthy rags in God’s sight!

Once through the gate, the Lord provides clothes of righteousness and a robe of salvation. He gives us new songs to sing, and peace of mind with a light and joyful heart to travel up the path of life. When trials and difficulties come (and they will) He is there to help and to take us by the hand, telling us that His grace is more than enough to see us through. There really is no option as to which choice is the better one of the two….let’s make sure we all find this way that leads to unending life and peace with the Maker of the Universe.