Not My Fault!

November 6, 2023 Gwenyth Leave a comment

As far as God is concerned, no-one is rich, and no-one is poor as far as money is concerned….one is no more important than the other. In fact, the one who is poor in money, is often rich in other ways….in love and concern for others, a happy family life, rich friendships, and in depending on God. Those who are rich financially, are often poor in these things, relying on their money to buy everything they want…..

They tend to leave God out of their lives and ride roughshod over the feelings of others in their desire for more and more. When they get to the end of their lives, they end up with no more land than the poor man…just a plot of ground in a cemetery! If they don’t know the Lord, they end up being the poor man in eternity while the other ends up being rich with the Lord like the story of the rich man and the beggar which we read about in Luke chapter 16, verses 19-31.

When we have more than we need, then the temptations creep into our lives to want more and more…..we have to resist these if we want to receive the commendation that the Lord gives those who stand firm for Him. People tend to always shift the blame for their own shortcomings onto others….it is always someone else’s fault. Right from a young age it is built into the human psyche to say “Not my fault, I didn’t do it!”

We have to be very careful to not blame God for the circumstances of life that we don’t like….we often bring these on our own selves. Then again, God can use our adverse circumstances and our attitude to them, to speak to those who don’t know Him like He did with Job….what a great example and encouragement that man has been down through the ages!

God never brings bad things into our lives, but He allows them for our greater good….otherwise how could we see His great hand of provision for us? Something good can come out of every circumstance we endure, even when we have brought our trials on ourselves by our own self will and foolishness. When we feel that life is dealing us a hard hand, stop and take stock of everything that we have that is good, and give thanks to God for them, instead of moaning about what we don’t have !

Random Devotional Thoughts

God’s Mercy and Peace.

October 30, 2023 Gwenyth Leave a comment

Galatians 1: 3-5

Paul is still in his introduction to the Galatian Christians here. He was in a position to pass on a blessing from God to others…. The challenge to us is, do we know God well enough to do this as well?

Paul knew God’s grace and peace and he knew where it came from.… it was the work of our Lord Jesus Christ. Note that he uses Christ’s full title here…. none of this plain “Jesus” as we hear so much in Christian circles today. The world uses the name “Jesus Christ” in blasphemy and expletives, but only a genuine believer uses His full title. Let us see that we make full use of it!

We sometimes wonder if non-Christian people we associate with, notice that we don’t talk as they do….I remember once when I was having my weekly game of golf (and I played golf very badly!) and had made a particularly bad shot. One of the ladies I was playing with, said, “I don’t know how you can have a shot like that, and not be swearing!” So people DO notice how we act and talk! Let us not let the Lord Jesus Christ down in our speech and actions!

In the next verse, Paul says why He is our Lord Jesus Christ….. it is because He gave Himself for our sins and delivered us from this present evil world. This is God’s will for each human being. Let us see that we live in the enjoyment of this blessing and not go back into the scum of what this world has to offer! Paul finishes off his introduction by acknowledging God’s glory which is everlasting….. this is the eternal praise of heaven (Revelation 5:12-14). If we don’t want to do this on earth now, we certainly won’t want to do it for eternity!

The blessings of God are mercy and peace, We can thank Him now that they’ll never cease; Through the work that was done, By His well loved Son, ‘Twill last well beyond our decease.

Devotional Poems

Our Wonderful God!

October 23, 2023 Gwenyth Leave a comment

This poem says it all….what a wonderful God we have!!!

O Lord, You’ve searched and known me, From in the past eternity; You’ve known me from the outside in, You know my ways and all my sin; There’s not a word You do not hear, You know my every secret fear; You are behind, before me too, You know the things I see and do. I cannot know such knowledge great, Until I get to heaven’s gate.

No matter where I go down here, You are always very near; From heaven’s clouds to earth below, You’ll find me still where’er I go, E’en in the utmost sea so wide, There is no place where I can hide! I cannot hide in darkest night, For Your eyes see as though ‘twas light; You’ve known me from my mother’s womb, You’ll see me till I reach the tomb;

You have made me marvellously, Every bit of me You see! You wrote of me before I came, And in Your book I see my name, How precious are Your thoughts to me! You’re now with me continually. Help me to always feel the pain, When others take Your Name in vain, I know You’ll deal with them one day, So keep me from all evil ways.

Search me O Lord, and know my heart, Try my thoughts, keep me apart, From wicked ways and thoughts in me, And lead in ways that uplift Thee!

Morning Musings

Older Age

October 16, 2023 Gwenyth Leave a comment

I’ve just been reading Psalm 92 where it says, “The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing,” (verses 12-14)

Those of us who like gardening, love to watch what they plant, grow from small seedlings to full sized plants and eventually to flower and fruit. It is the same for the Lord, Who has given each of us life….He loves to see His people grow from their first awakening to their need of Him, to maturity in Himself. In this passage here, it says that we are still able to bear fruit in our old age.

There is no need for us to feel that we have been put on the shelf as it were, or that we are past it and now just useless. There is still so much that we can do in spite of our aching bones and useless muscles. The first thing we can all do, is to thank the Lord for what we DO have, that we can still think and pray. So many of our friends and relations have lost this ability, and it is so sad to see them just sitting there, a shadow of what they used to be and not even recognising their loved ones.

Then we can write letters, not only to our old friends, but also to our families, especially to the ones who are living in other countries. For those who can use a computer, it is so easy to write a regular family newsletter, and send it to those on your mailing list. There are so many things to write about, not only what you have been doing or thinking about, but also about how life used to be when you were growing up. Life is so different in this digital age, and it is hard for the modern young ones to imagine life without all the latest gadgets that are available today.

So for all us older ones, let’s think positively about what we CAN do and not about what we can’t. Make sure we flourish in the things of the Lord and pass on what we can while we can. We must remember that …..if we don’t use it, we lose it!!

Daily Devotionals

Repentance and Forgiveness

October 9, 2023 Gwenyth Leave a comment

Psalm 51, verse 17 says… The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.

This psalm tells us how to come to know the God of Heaven. In fact it gives the same message that we find in the New Testament….confession, with forgiveness and cleansing following (1 John 1:9). Sin comes between man and God, but when we openly confess what we have done, God will freely forgive and give us a fresh new start. We need not feel embarrassed at our weakness (that is pride)….God already knows it, but we have to admit it and follow Him once more.

David was a king in Bible times who loved God very much. But even he wandered away from God’s ways, and committed the despicable murder of an innocent man. He tried to cover one sin with another sin, but it didn’t work. So often we do a similar thing, only to find that our fellowship with God is broken. We can either admit our sin quickly and openly to God, or remain in bitterness and misery , trying to tell ourselves that it didn’t really matter, and it was really the other person’s fault!

Do what David did, and then you will be able to say the following…. Have mercy on me O God my King, As to you now, my sin I bring; Wash me thoroughly, make me clean, Against You alone, my sin has been!

Daily Devotionals

Thoughts from Psalm Five.

September 24, 2023 Gwenyth Leave a comment

The Praying Man.

It’s a wonderful fact that we have access to the God of Heaven and earth through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ ! We can meet with Him at any time of course, but it’s most important to start the day off with Him in peace and quiet before the busyness of the day begins. David had learned this from a very early age, and it was something that he practiced every day. God is faithful in all His dealings with His people, and we have to trust that what He gives us to enjoy is the best for us. It isn’t always easy to rejoice when things are hard or don’t go our way, but we are told to keep a cheerful attitude at all times!

Consider my thoughts and my words O my Lord, Hear the voice of my cry, my King and my God;

Each morning I’ll call and pray unto Thee, Trusting that You will have mercy on me.

Wickedness cannot stand before You, The foolish and evil will be destroyed too.

But because of Your mercy I’ll worship in awe, Your faithfulness is great, I cannot ask more;

But let those who trust, all sing and rejoice, Blessing You Lord, with their heart and their voice.

Life Lessons

Why do Bad things Happen to Good People? (Final Part)

September 18, 2023 Gwenyth Leave a comment

Job’s Reaction.

Job finally found his voice again… “O Lord, I know that You can do all things! I’ve listened to all these things that You can do, and I’m an utter fool! Please forgive me!” This is what the Lord delights to hear from each of His people, an utter dependence on Him…. It is only when we come to an end of ourselves that God can work for us! He will never despise or turn away from a broken and contrite heart (Psalm 34:18; 51:17). Now that Job had stopped justifying himself, he was in a position where God could work on, and for, him. But he first had to prove himself, that he had no more bitterness for his friends who at least had come to visit him in the time of trial!

They were required to offer a sacrifice for their part in this whole affair, and Job had to pray for them when a natural reaction would be one of revenge. The whole matter was cleared up in the right way and with the right attitudes, and then God was able to bless Job to the fullest. All that he had lost was now restored to him…his health, his reputation and relationships, his wealth, and even another family that was as much joy to him as his first! His daughters were the most beautiful girls in the land!

Before we leave the story of Job, let’s think for a moment about Mrs. Job. We tend to downgrade her for telling Job he might as well curse God and die. But she too had suffered loss in this ….she had lost her income, her wealth, her family….all were gone. Then there were those men that came and sat around saying nothing to comfort Job at all. No wonder she felt like she did!

Would we be any different? Both she and Job must have been relatively young when all this happened, maybe in their mid thirties as they had another ten children. Before we condemn her for her hasty comment, let’s put ourselves in her shoes and imagine how we would have felt!

It’s all in our attitude…towards God and those around us. We have to be right in both directions before God can fully bless us. We cannot be right towards God and be bitter against someone else at the same time. It doesn’t work! If we are bitter at all, we are NOT right before God. Bitterness is not becoming for a believer, no matter what the rights and wrongs are! That was the difference in the attitudes of Job and his wife. Job could say “though He slay me, yet will I praise Him!” while she said, “Curse Him and die!” What are our attitudes to our disappointments?

It wasn’t until Job was able to pray for his friends, that God was able to bless Him! This reminds us that we are told to pray for those who are mean to us, and for those who persecute us. We are not to hold any resentments or bad feelings toward ANYONE! If we do, we are to confess it as a sin, and then we know that God will forgive us, and cleanse us from this unrighteousness. Then we are to act in a loving and friendly manner towards them, in obedience to God’s Word. (Job 42:1-17)

Life Lessons, Uncategorized

Why Do Bad things Happen to Good People? (Part Nine)

September 4, 2023 Gwenyth Leave a comment

Summing It All Up.

Elihu , the youngest of the group had kept silent during this second round of speeches. But now he spoke up and gave his opinion of Job’s situation, and what the others had said… He was angry at all their speeches, even at Job for justifying himself rather than giving God the glory, and he was angry at the other three because they hadn’t been any help at all with their ideas. He said that he had waited in vain for them to say something constructive, and now that they had run out, he was going to give his opinion!

“I’m nearly ready to bust”, he exclaimed, “so you all listen to me now! Job, you’ve been telling us about all the good you’ve done in your life, and how you feel God has now deserted you! God deals with everyone differently, and He has the final say in men’s affairs. So take notice of this Job, and if you’ve got anything more to say, say it now!” Elihu then turned his attention to the others…”You guys think you’re the wise ones, now listen to me…Job thinks he has done nothing wrong. We know that God certainly does no wrong, and that He is over everything on earth…are you in God’s place to say these things against Job? Even if he has been talking rubbish, he is the one who is paying for it now! We’ve got to remember that God knows more than we do and that He knows what He is doing. Job’s words are just wasted in his situation! “You all just listen to me! God is mighty in power, and what He does is right! He is great and we cannot know His wisdom, and how He orders the world, the rain, and the light that He gives! I tremble to speak on His behalf! Just take notice of the thunder, the whirlwinds that come, and the snow in its season. Just listen to me Job, there is no-one and nothing that can equal God’s might and majesty….this is why we are to fear Him!”

Job’s trial was nearly at an end although he didn’t know it then, and God now spoke directly to him. Although Job had not let God down as Satan had hoped, yet there were still things for him to learn. This is how it is for each one of us, and there are many things for us to learn through the trials we suffer, and often through sickness and ill health… God now spoke directly to Job…. “Job, you wanted to talk to me, now I will ask you a few things! Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? How much do you know about its construction? “ and on He went asking Job about the universe and the great seas that He had created and now controlled. He continued to point out to Job other things about the animals and nature that He had created. Job listened to all this and became completely speechless. “Oh God, I am completely unworthy of your notice!” he cried, “I can say no more!” If we would only think of ourselves in relation to God, we too would be speechless!

Our little concerns would seem so petty in the light of God’s glory and greatness. What seems so important to us now suddenly becomes worthless junk compared to the things of eternity! When we look around us, God’s glory is seen in every flower, bird and animal, from the largest to the smallest. No two are the same, every sheep has its own characteristics, and the tiny ants would have too! Every human being has their own distinctive face and DNA! We are all unique, we all have a soul given to us by God and a spirit that craves communication with Him whether we give in to it or not.

We are truly left speechless in the face of all this! This is how each one of us will be when we face Him in the day to come. Speechless, but for the praise that is due to Him (from His people) and the admission that Jesus Christ is Lord from every mouth, both saved and unsaved.

(Job Chapters 32-41)

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