I remember when I was young, my gran used to beckon me to “come close so I can…”. I would get all excited when she said that to me, as often it was to give me a some sweets or some coins from her purse. It maybe doesn’t sound like much now, but at that time, and at that age, it really meant something to me.
There is another person who beckoned to me to “come close” many years ago, and I responded, and that is God. God continues to call me to Him after all these years, because He knows that sometimes I just need reminded to go to Him when I’m in trouble.
As you come close to God in prayer, He brings purpose even from the brokenness of your life. You can’t remain downcast when you turn your face upward to God. He reaches down to your lowest pit, but He doesn’t leave you there. Women Who Move Mountains – @SueDetweiler
God is always watching over us, and looking out for us, but rather than just wandering or faltering maybe we need to take the initiative sometime, and approach him when we’re struggling.
God alone can calm our fears and give us peace, because only he can take away all our problems and worries. So let God give you rest.
These days, when we look at this world, it can cause us to feel sad, depressed, shocked, maybe even terrified, because let’s be honest, there is a lot of bad, or evilness around these days.
Psalm 27:13 (NLT) Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living.
We need to be positive, God is here with us in they world, and with his help I believe, we can change this world from one where evil is to the fore, to one where love overcomes evil.
How many times have you delayed doing something because there appears to be no urgency to do anything?
How many times having not done anything, have you then regretted taking no action?
We don’t know what the future holds for us or those around us, so don’t put of doing something today just because you think you’ll still be able to do it tomorrow. Tomorrow may be too late, and then you’ll spend your life regretting your lack of action.
The same applies to our relationship with God, don’t delay in giving your life to Him, because when you give him your life, you will get the reassurance that He will give you everlasting life. What greater reward could we ever want!
Sometime life can get so busy and stressful that we forget just how blessed we actually are.
God has provided each of us with many gifts and talents, though when we’re so busy and overstretched we can forget just how many gifts God has given us.
So in the busyness of life, make sure you make time for yourself, so you can remind yourself just how blessed you are with the gifts and talents God had given to you.
Speak properly, and in as few words as you can, but always plainly; for the end of speech is not ostentation, but to be understood. ~ William Penn
The project I’m responsible for at work just now, involves designing and developing a new website to provide our customers with a simple, and easy to understand way of communicating with us. This includes ensuring that the information/text the customer will be presented with is written in Plain English. i.e. It is written with the reader in mind, using non-technical terms that are clear and concise in meaning.
To give us the best chance of ensuring that what we are developing is written in way our customers will understand, we’ve held several customer forums, and have completed some online training provided by the Plain English Campaign (www.plainenglish.co.uk). For those who have not heard of the Plain English Campaign, here’s an extract from their website explaining their purpose:
Since 1979, we have been campaigning against gobbledygook, jargon and misleading public information. We have helped many government departments and other official organisations with their documents, reports and publications. We believe that everyone should have access to clear and concise information.
From the customer forums we held, we quickly realised that some of the words/terms we frequently use when we communicate with our customers, are either unclear or meaningless to our customer. This got me thinking about how we as Christians, and Salvationists, communicate God’s message to the people we come into contact with.
Do we use words that others won’t understand?
Do we use abbreviations or jargon that those unfamiliar with the Salvation Army will not know or understand?
I think most of us, if we’re honest, would answer ‘Yes’ to both those questions. But we’re not alone, even Jesus found at times he had to simplify his language so that the disciples understood what he was trying to tell them!
In John 16:25-29, we read:
“I’ve used figures of speech in telling you these things. Soon I’ll drop the figures and tell you about the Father in plain language. Then you can make your requests directly to him in relation to this life I’ve revealed to you. I won’t continue making requests of the Father on your behalf. I won’t need to. Because you’ve gone out on a limb, committed yourselves to love and trust in me, believing I came directly from the Father, the Father loves you directly. First, I left the Father and arrived in the world; now I leave the world and travel to the Father.”
His disciples said, “Finally! You’re giving it to us straight, in plain talk—no more figures of speech. Now we know that you know everything—it all comes together in you. You won’t have to put up with our questions anymore. We’re convinced you came from God.”
There are many people all around us: in our church; in our communities; our school; places of employment etc, who all need Christ. So just as Jesus had to speak plainly so the disciples understood and believed He was the Son of God, maybe we too need to review how we communicate God’s message to others, so they will believe in God.
There are people living in the world out there…
They need you, they need me, they need Christ;
There are children crying and no one to care…
They need you, they need me, they need Christ.
And they’ll go on hurting in the world out there,
And they’ll go on dying, drowning in despair,
And they’ll go on crying, that’s unless we care: They need you, they need me, they need Christ.
Words are not one of my strong points (you may have noticed this!) – I struggle to find the right words sometimes to express how I feel or how to comfort or encourage others or even myself! However I have found that even when I can’t find any words, music can often comfort and encourage me, so I’m sure finding the right music can help anyone in whatever situation or circumstances they find themselves.
Here’s one of my ‘go to’ songs when I need some encouragement:
Harvest is a time when we thank God for all the things that He provides for us. We give food and produce to our church to help those in our community who are in need.
But is there more to harvest than this?
Yes, it’s about ‘harvesting souls’ for Christ as well. In other words, it’s a time for us to bring others into a knowledge and understanding of God’s love.
Galatians 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Join me in praying today that God might use each of us to plant a seed in someone’s heart so that they might come to know God as their friend and saviour.
Here’s the International Staff Songsters of the Salvation Army singing His Provision:
Wow! That certainly got me taking a much closer look at myself. Am I living my life in a way that others will see Christ through me? If I’m honest with you and with God, no, it doesn’t.
Today I pray that God will help me to be the person He wants me to be, so others can see Him through the way I lead my life.
