‘While we were still sinners, Christ died for us’ Romans 5:8

When you consider some of the people Jesus called to be His disciples, the word ‘dysfunctional’ comes to mind. But Jesus wasn’t put off. Like finding treasure in the trash, He was able to see their potential, draw it out and develop it. And that’s your story too, isn’t it? Paul writes, ‘You are a letter from Christ…written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God.’

Other people don’t write your story. Even you don’t. ‘The Spirit of the living God’ is writing it. That means your best days are still ahead! An old Bible lay on a bargain table along with hundreds of tattered books. A lot of people had picked it up and thumbed through its pages. It wasn’t in very good shape - certainly not worth two pounds - so it was cast aside. Then a man picked it up, stifled a shout, and rushing to the counter he paid the paltry asking price. Turns out it was an original Gutenberg estimated to be worth more than a million pounds! How many times did that old book change hands before it was redeemed? How many times did the world cast it aside, unaware of its value?

The truth is, we were all passed over until Jesus saw value in us. But rather than paying bargain price, He paid the highest price possible. ‘While we were still sinners, Christ died for us’ (Romans 5:8 NIV 2011 Edition). So when you’re having a bad day, look in the mirror and remind yourself, ‘God loves me Calvary-worth!’ Then go out and try to see others as treasures God couldn’t live without; sinners Christ died to redeem.

Courtesy of UCB

Sandi Patti and Wayne Watson sing ‘Another time another place’. Click on the picture to listen.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5: 10

Persecution is already here. Growing up I was taught to believe that there would be a time when Christians would be persecuted for their faith and so we should endeavour to build a relationship with Christ and commit scripture to memory for strength in these trying times. Indeed, our key scripture alludes to this time. Well, that time is now.

I was very much saddened to read about ‘45 Killed in Yet Another Attack on Christian Communities in Nigeria’. Probably because it isn’t happening to people I directly know, or even in the country where I live, I haven’t been affected by it. Nevertheless, as a Christian these people are my brothers and sisters as we share the same heavenly father.

November 23 was Religious Freedom day, but for me it just came and went because I wasn’t aware of it until I started doing some research. However, I think everyday should a day when we pray for those who lives are being taken because of their faith. Please click on the hyperlinks and remember to say a prayer for the difficult situations around the world where standing up for what you believe, may cost you your life.

Bryn chose ‘The Creed’. Click on the picture to listen.

November 25-26 - A Step at a Time

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” - Jeremiah 29:11

Vance Havner, in his book, It Is Toward Evening, tells the story of a group of farmers who were raising cotton in the Deep South of America) when the devastating boll weevil (picture below right) invaded the crops. These men had put all of their savings, dedicated all of their fields, set all of their hopes in cotton. Then the boll weevil came. Before long, it looked as if they were headed for the poorhouse.

But farmers, being the determined and ingenious people they are, decided, "Well, we can't plant cotton, so let's plant peanuts" - remember James (Jimmy) Carter? Jimmy Carter, a devout Plains Baptist, returned from Washington to the Plains of Georgia, on the death of his father, despite the opposition of his wife, to to care for his mother, and become a hard working peanut farmer, taking over his plot of land, warehouse and store. Carter was to go on to become the 38^th President of the USA. Amazingly, those peanut farmers were brought more money than they would have ever made raising cotton. When the farmers realized that what had seemed like a disaster had actually proved to be a boon, they erected a large and impressive monument to the boll weevil—a monument to the very thing they once thought would destroy them.

There are times in our lives when we get into a groove. "Sometimes we settle into a humdrum routine as monotonous as growing cotton year after year," says Havner, himself a seasoned old saint of God at the time he wrote these words. "Then God sends the boll weevil; He jolts us out of our groove, and we must find new ways to live. Financial reverses, great bereavement, physical infirmity, loss of position—how many have been driven by trouble to be better husbandmen and to bring forth far finer fruit from their souls! The best thing that ever happened to some of us was the coming of our 'boll weevil.' "1

That's what sustained Elijah during his boot camp experience. When God directs, God provides. We have to learn to trust and obey God, one day at a time. Did you notice that God never told Elijah what the second step would be until he had taken the first step? God told His prophet to go to Ahab. When Elijah got to the palace, God told him what to say. After he said it, God told him, "Now, go to the brook." He didn't tell Elijah what was going to happen at Cherith; He just said, "Go to the brook and hide yourself." Elijah didn't know the future, but he did have God's promise: "I'll provide for you there." And God didn't tell him the next step until the brook had dried up.

God may not tell us what the second step is until we have taken the first step. God's direction includes God's provision. God says, "Go to the brook. I will provide."

(Adapted from Charles Swindoll)

“He Leads Me Each Step of the Way” - click on the picture to listen.

“But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.'” I Samuel 16:7,(NIV)

Len Goodman, judge on the TV show “Strictly Come Dancing,” has a saying passed down to him from his grandfather - “You can't help the hat your mother put on your head,” meaning, you can't do anything about your background or your upbringing, your past, but you do have a say in your present and future.

Surely though, if God needed something important done, He would ask someone who had it all together. You know those men and women. They never yell at their kids or have an emotional meltdown in the supermarket. They know what they’re having for dinner each night and come to Bible study with their homework done. If God is going to assign an important job to someone, it’s going to be to someone like that. Right?

Think again, read the story of Rahab in the book of Joshua. It gives hope that sometimes the best people for God’s job doesn’t have a perfect life or a perfect faith.

In fact, Rahab’s story tells us that sometimes God chooses those with rough resumes, gritty pasts and dauntless attitudes to get a hard job done. Which is why God chose Rahab when He needed a brave and bold person to protect His warriors.

Rahab was a prostitute who lived within the walls of the city of Jericho. Jericho was a great city, except for the fact that God told the Israelites to conquer it. The people who lived in Jericho weren’t following God, but they had heard of Him and how He helped the Israelites win many battles. When the residents of Jericho learned the Israelites were camped outside their city, they were rightly concerned.

As part of the reconnaissance, Joshua, the leader of the Israelites, sent two spies into the city. The Bible seems to indicate they made a beeline into an unusual place of refuge: Rahab’s home. Now why would God direct them to the house of a woman? And one who didn’t have the best reputation?

There are many reasons why God might have chosen this particular woman to help the spies. But the one that strikes the deepest chord in my heart is that other people might have underestimated Rahab’s potential based on her past and present circumstances. But not God.

Rahab had guts and grit. When the spies arrived, instead of quivering in fear, Rahab thought fast and hid them on her roof. Then she redirected the king’s men, making a way of escape for the spies. God could have chosen someone with a perfect pedigree to help. But on that day, inside the walls of the city, facing warrior spies in danger, none were available.

Rahab, however, was in the perfect position, with the perfect disposition, to do the most good. And God must have seen something tender in the heart of this life-hardened woman and knew He could trust her.

I love this about God. When God looked at Rahab, He didn’t see her past or her profession. He saw her potential. In spite of the challenges and choices of her life, He knew there was a part of Rahab’s heart that was open to Him. And Rahab did not disappoint.

The story ends with the spies escaping and God destroying the city of Jericho and everyone in it — except for Rahab and her family.

Rahab didn’t send the spies away, explaining that she didn’t have the best track record with men. Instead, she devised a plan. She used her boldness to defy the king’s men. She drew from her bravery to protect her family. She risked greatly, and it paid off.

Rahab’s story tells us that although we might list all the reasons why God wouldn’t use us, God prefers to take our personalities, experiences, even the parts of use that seem less-than-pleasant and give them to Him … every part of us. It doesn’t mean He’s going to leave us as we are; God is always refining us. But in His hands, our mess has meaning.

Have you ever stamped “disqualified” on yourself due to your personality or something in your past or present? If so, I pray Rahab’s story encourages you. God has a plan for your life, and He wants you, in all your uniqueness, to make it happen.

Heavenly Father, thank You for looking deeper than what others see, and for seeing my potential. Please help me trust that You want me just as I am and have a plan to use me in Your kingdom. Help me to trust You and Your plan for my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Acknowledgements Proverbs 91 Ministries

Click on the picture to listen to "God Uses the Imperfect Ones."

‘For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ Romans 10:13

I was rather surprised to read an article yesterday informing me of one of the fastest growing areas of Christianity in the UK. ‘Huge numbers of Gypsies and travellers in England now say they've joined a new movement called Light and Life. Those who join have given up drinking alcohol and fortune-telling, and many have even abandoned their traditional Catholic faith.’ BBC News

Not being an expert myself on the Gypsy or traveller culture, all of the travellers I had come into contact with were of the Catholic faith even if they were not practising. Stepping away from Catholicism at one stage was seen as an abandonment of the Gypsy way and risked even being thrown out of the community. So, the article telling informing me that up to 40%of British Gypsies belong to it challenged me.

While teaching an art lesson today I began with the sentence “Hands up all those who believe...” I was going to say ‘that they cannot draw’. Before I could the, so called, trouble maker of the class said “IN JESUS!” The class being 95% Muslim looked at him as though he had just sworn. I quickly jumped to his aid and said “I do, because I am a Christian, but that was not what I was going on to say.”

Whatever label you may carry, troublesome child, traveller, shy Christian as long as you believe on the name of Jesus, you WILL be saved. Christianity is growing faster in the marginalized areas of our society than the supposed ‘easy to reach’ suburban’s.

Let us not get left behind by this movement in the last days of earth history. Take up your cross and follow Jesus.

Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir sing ‘Take up you cross.’  Click on the picture to listen.

‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.’ Proverbs 9:10

A quick internet search informs me that philosophy is ‘the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence, especially when considered as an academic discipline.’ Another definition I have heard is that it is ‘navel gazing’ or the debating every angle of an opinion without having to come to a conclusion. In my opinion, it is a course that is option of study with people who are looking for meaning but have no religious or spiritual convictions.

When you think of philosopher’s people like Plato, Kant, Nietzsche, Confuscius and Arendt may spring to mind. I was therefore bemused to read this this week that the University of Glasgow are adding Homer to that; that would be Homer Simpson, father of Bart Simpson. So for those who are not up to date with TV shows, Wikipedia says ‘The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical depiction of working-class life epitomized by the Simpson family, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie. The show is set in the fictional town of Springfield and parodies American culture, society, television, and the human condition.’ So Homer is a cartoon character.

Putting aside for one moment the absurdity of a university course discussing the merits of a cartoon character with lines written by a script writer and offering this up as education, it seems to me that people are looking for real answers. The search for reason will never be found in a TV screen, nor will it be found in the study of mans thoughts; cartoon or otherwise.

When Solomon was asked what he wanted 1 Kings 4:29 records his reply – ‘And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore. ‘

Solomon writes in Proverbs 9:10 ‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom:and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.’ All the answers are in the bible; we don’t need to look anywhere else.

‘We are an offering’ is sung by Chris Christian. Click on the picture to listen.

November 18-19 – Times of uncertainty

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" - 2 Corinthians 4:18, NIV

Have you ever been to an ice hockey match? I have, and thoroughly enjoyed it. One evening particularly sticks in my memory. That was the time I took my mum along to watch the Panthers playing at home (Nottingham) against an American team.

The rules of the game aren't complicated and equipment is simple – a pair of ice skates, a 'stick,' a hard circular disc – the puck, and two netted goals. The intention is, while skating on the ice, and avoiding the opposition, to push and hit the puck with the stick into the rival goal. As the game progresses, play becomes, shall we say, 'competitive' to say the least.

The spectators were divided in their support, and vocal. The game was fast, furious, and not for the faint hearted. Entering into the spirit of things mum cheered every move of the Panthers – and they needed it – they were losing. The Americans on the other hand, she blasted with cries of “off side”! with every winning shot they made. I gave up trying to convince her that the rules of ice hockey and football are somewhat different. As I say, a memorable evening.

There was a lesson to be learned that evening. Despite consistently losing, and the uncertainty and demoralisation the home team felt, they never failed to stay the course – they kept pressing on regardless.

Pastor Terry Boyles, Chairman for 'Insight for Living,' has a saying for these times of uncertainty -

                                         “keep your stick on the ice”

At these times nothing seems to be going right. Health is out of kilter....family problems have come to a stand-off, and work is in the balance with more twists and turns by the day....redundancies, Health and Safety changes, you name it, all sources of stress, uncertainty, and demoralisation.

Apparently, the saying comes from the game of ice hockey. “Keeping your stick on the ice is a fundamental lesson engrained into the mind of every ice hockey player by his or her coach from an early age. Why? Well, if your stick is on the ice you will be ready to receive the puck when it comes your way, often quickly, so that you can either pass it on to a team mate or hit it into the goal to score.” A crucial component of the game....but equally one that applies to everyday life.”

Paul realised this, and in his second letter to Timothy, he coached him in words so applicable to us in our lives today -

“....preach the word, be ready in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke and exhort with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths” - 2 Timothy 4: 2-4 (ESV).

In today's consumerist society – the “I want it now” “shop 'til you drop” mentality.– an age of 'other gods,' laid-on entertainment, smart phones with gambling, and social media at the touch of a button, countless numbers of people have turned away from the truth in favour of the instant fix. When things go wrong in their lives, when life is uncertain and they feel demoralised, they have nowhere to turn. For them, the old values no longer exist. There is no off-side. They have taken their eyes off the goal, and have failed to “keep their stick” on the ice.

If we are to score our winning goal of eternal life, we need to listen closely to the instructions our coach gives us in His Word....get our priorities straight and reclaim the old values for ourselves and our children. Don't be distracted by what the opposition offers. We can't afford to be off-side. The only way to success is to “Keep your stick on the ice.”

Today's music is “Made a Way” - sung by Travis Greene. Click on the picture to listen.

November 17 – Past, present, and future

“You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder” - James 2:19.

In five weeks time we will be stepping across the doorstep into another year – 2017, and wondering what lies ahead of us. Throughout 2016, for most of us, life has been an adventure to say the least. What at the beginning of the year looked like a clear, straight, road ahead, turned out to have more twists and turns than a roller-coaster. Each day brought it's dilemmas, demands, and trials.

Over the next five weeks, as you contemplate the joys and sorrows 2017 will hold for each of us, are you doing it with a great degree of trepidation, or will you accept the challenge, and in God's strength, do as David did and go forward in trust to face your challenges – giants?

David was your average sized man – in fact, he was the runt of his family, yet the giant he faced was colossal! It doesn't say in the Bible, but what do you think Goliath would measure around his waist....? Well, I used to know a man who was just 6' 2” tall with a waist measurement of 64 inches. Contrast that with Goliath. Standing at 9'9” tall he must have been HUGE around the middle, with a chest the size of a barrel, and a voice like thunder. Yet that didn't deter David from facing up to him.

Wearing the armour of God for protection – faith and trust....with implicit belief in his Saviour, David rushed towards his giant and met him head-on, looked him in the eye, confident that the “God of the armies of Israel” (1 Samuel 17:45), was in charge and would give him the victory. Take note that the word “armies” is used as a plural – not just in charge of Israel, but platoons of angels, weapons of the wind, and forces of the earth – the armies of God.

hroughout this year have we done the same, faced up to our challenges, our Goliaths? Will we determine to do the same next year? How long is it since we loaded our sling and took a swing at our particular giant? Probably you, like me, say “too long”. But don't despair, David wasn't too hot either at repeating his face-off with Goliath. He was to stumble as often as he conquered.

In David's life we see a man - a raging, weeping, bloodthirsty David who was also a failure at family life. In his bad moments no-one could be worse. In his good moments? God in Acts 18:22 NIV called David “ a man after my own heart.” The days David focused on God , his giants fell. When he didn't, he fell.

As we contemplate and plan for a good, God-blessed year ahead, despite the giant roller-coaster, swan dives and belly flops that will inevitably come, we will face them with God by our side, and surrounded with the armies of Israel. Deuteronomy 31:6 gives this assurance: “So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you."

Come to think of it, why wait 'til the end of the year - every day is a new beginning.  Let us start now and fix our thoughts on God more than on our trials. Our blessings more than our complaints, and we can't fail – even the HUGEST giant will tremble and fall.

“Bigger Than All My Problems.” Click on the picture to listen.

^"Therefore I say unto you, Be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than the food, and the body than the raiment?  Behold the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not ye of much more value than they?  And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit unto the measure of his life?  And why are ye anxious concerning raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:  yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  But if God doth so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?  Be not therefore anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?  For after all these things do the Gentiles seek; for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.  But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.  Be not therefore anxious for the morrow: for the morrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof" - Matthew 6:25-34 ASV

GOD USES MONEY IN 3 WAYS:  A TOOL, A TEST, AND A TESTIMONY

1. Money as a Tool:

The way we handle our finances is an indicator of what's inside our hearts. Show me your bank statement and I will tell you what kind of person you are. The way you spend money and the way you handle it tells much about who you are as a person.

We need to understand that money is just a tool. What is the purpose of a tool? It is to make our lives easier and better. But we shouldn't allow our lives to revolve on money alone.....How would you know if you are using your money the right way? Answer: If your money is making your life easier and better, it means that you are using the money the right way. But if your money is making your life harder and difficult, it means that you are using the money the wrong way.

1. Money as a Test:

Most people fail to realise that money is both a test and trust from God. God uses money to teach us to trust Him. For many people, money is the greatest test of all. God watches how we use money to test how trustworthy we are. God also tests us in times of need and in times of abundance.

When we are in financial need, we are tested. Do we panic and easily give in to worry? Do we tend to focus on the problem or the solution? Do we tend to complain and grumble rather than believe that God will help us and make a way even if it's impossible?

When we are in financial abundance, we are tested. Have you ever met people who used to be humble and soft-spoken, but once money and success start coming in, their attitudes and behaviour start to change? They become proud, arrogant, and oftentimes insensitive. Money and success did not actually change the person but only exposed what's inside the heart and the true nature of the person's character. Or will we remain humble and remind ourselves the reason we are successful now is because God has given us the ability to produce wealth? Apart from God, we can do nothing!

    1. Money as a Testimony:

"It's God's will for you to live in prosperity instead of poverty. It's God's will for you to pay your bills and not be in debt." - Joel Osteen.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: This has been taken from the book, "Till Debt do us Part" by Chinkee Tan. (2012)

Girlie Mae Andrada writes, “As SmartStewards, we have been on this journey with God. We, too, have been foolish with the resources that God has entrusted to us. We found ourselves in debt and in deep financial difficulties. But God, in His great mercy and grace, like a loving Shepherd led us back into the right path. We are now debt-free and relishing God's blessings as it comes, being so careful not to fall into a debt infested trap again. God says, "Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me." Psalms 50:15 NKJV.

My addition goes like this. I can see that money has been a tool, a test and a testimony for Girlie Mae Andrada and her family. To see the change in what God has done for the family is easy, and the only one to ‘blame’ for the change is God.

God truly is good.

Music today is "You Made a Way", sung by Travis Greene.  Click on the picture to listen.

 ‘For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.’ Proverbs 2:6

Is the United States election over yet (mild sarcasm)? All I have heard in the last few months, weeks, days, is Trump or Clinton propaganda. We all know now that Trump is now the president elect after easily winning the vote of the American people.

Living in the United Kingdom, there is a saying with regards to the ‘special’ relationship that British Prime Minister has with the American President. It reads something like ‘when America sneezes, the UK catches a cold.’ An example of this is when the then UK Prime Minister Tony Blair promised to support President George W Bush when in went to war in Iraq. A price for which he is still paying for now both in reputation and in the legal courts.

It is easy to be swept along by events happening, in my case, so far away, but the media is totally saturated with everything Trump does or says. The conspiracies theorists are also at it over analysing every movement.

My newspaper, the bible, gives me some excellent advice to put this into perspective.

Matthew 24:6 ‘And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.’ Trump can say all he wants to but it is about Gods agenda not his.

Psalm 47:7 ‘For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.’ Maybe as Christians we should spend more time talking about God than politicians.

My final thoughts:

Jeremiah 29:11 ‘For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.’ 

Charles and Taylor sing ‘You are God alone.’ Click on the picture to listen.