March 24-25 – Get ready

“In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success” - Proverbs 3:6 TLB

At the moment there's a real air of excitement going on in the neighbourhood. Saw's are sawing, drills are drilling and hammers are hammering. Lawns are being mowed and hedges trimmed. Fences and sheds are being painted with creosote, or it's latest equivalent, as the shed contents are disgorged onto the newly spruced patio decking. Garden furniture, Bar-B-Q's, children's swimming pools and trampolines are being cleaned, inspected and set in place just ready for the 'day'.


Not to be outdone, the children have become several decibels louder (and that's when they're happy). When they're not....WOW! - well, at least they have healthy lungs! They are racing around their parent houses and gardens looking for the likely places they will find hidden Easter eggs on Easter Sunday. All this, despite the local news reporting cold temperatures, and a possibility of more snow over the Easter weekend.

My friends' children can hardly contain themselves. Several families get together, and whichever of the children collects the most hidden eggs also wins a surprise – you've got it - an even BIGGER Easter egg! (The sugar rush probably accounts for the hyperactivity going on!).

What has this to do with the true meaning of Easter? You might well ask. At no time have I heard a word about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus – Love on a cross – the death of that Babe in the manger, who willingly paid the penalty for our sins, and bought us and our loved ones eternal life.

Don't misunderstand me, I'm no party-pooper. All of the neighbourhood's planned Easter activities will be great fun – even if everyone is wearing three or four layers of clothing along with boots. I'm sure if the Lord and His disciples were around they would be right there in the middle of it all AFTER God had been worshipped and received His rightful praise and gratitude.

What does it say though about our life priorities if chocolate eggs and bar-b-q'd sausages have become more important than our Saviour and Salvation? When was it that that was allowed to happen? When did our churches and Christians everywhere become so lukewarm, or asleep, to allow that, and other secular customs, to snook in the backdoor and persuade our children too that Christ's ok, but in His place....when the eggs and sausages have all gone?.

“And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?” - Matthew 16:26 NLT

Charly Pride presents today's music - “Time out for Jesus”.  Click on the picture to listen.

March 23 – Opportunity, or Rights?

“Whatever is right...think about (it)...” Philippians 4:8. “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things”.

Paul wrote these words from the filth of a prison cell. Locked up once again because he continued to preach the message of Jesus Christ and the Cross – there were those around who were of the opinion he was getting what he asked for, but people and circumstances don't determine your attitude, you do!

Paul knew that if he was to win his own race in life, and spread the message to every person he met, despite background, creed, colour, and religion, he must learn to focus on his opportunities, not his rights. Circunstances could lock Paul in, but they couldn't cotrol his mind and keep him down.

That very night of his confinement, a jailer and his family were converted and baptised.

One of the biggest causes of discontent in this 21^st century, is our constant struggle to 'secure our rights'. Have you been wronged? Do you feel you haven't received a fair shake? That's because the world we live in is an imperfect world, and as long as it is, we won't see a time when everything we do is justly rewarded.

Continually fighting for our rights just makes us angry and resentful, because these destructive emotions sap our energy and make us negative. And besides, when we focus on our rights we're usually looking backward. You can't make progress when you're facing the wrong way! Only when you face in the right direction will you move to peace and contentment.

So, we're faced with a decision. Are we going to spend our time, our energy, our future on what should have been, or get over it and focus on what can be?

Even when truth and justice are on our side, we may never be able to right all our wrongs. But God will, so leave it in His hands.

Leaving it in His hands however, doesn't mean you won't experience past pain, when, despite your best will, old resentment push their way to the surface once again. But it does mean you can exercise your God-given freedom to choose - the future and opportunities, or your past rights.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV

Today's music choice is a favourite of Bryn's sung by The Greenes –“ God has another plan”.

March 16 – New start

“Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it?” - Isaiah 43:19

Our good old british weather never lets us down does it. The trees are in bud, bulbs are pushing through the ground, daffodils are shining gold in the sunshine, and the birds are in competition for the morning chorus. Then just when we get to thinking that spring has arrived, down comes the rain, out comes the wind, plummet goes the temperature, and the weather outlook says more snow is on it's way! Changeable, or what? The weather, just like our lives, is full of new starts.

God tells us, even in the Old Testament, that He is doing a new thing. A new thing is a good thing. He is making a WAY for us in the wilderness, He is giving us streams of living water in times we are in the wastelands. “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland” (Isaiah 43:18-19).

Writing of new beginings, Marvin Williams tells of Brayan, a young man who joined a gang in elementary school. Brayan ran away when he was 12 years old, and for 3 years was lost in gang and drug life. Although he left the gang and returned home, it was difficult for him, as he had been expelled from school for selling drugs. When he enrolled in a new high school, however, a teacher inspired and encouraged him to write about his experiences rather than repeat them. He embraced the challenge and is now experiencing a fresh start.

Try to make a new start alone though, and you will be sure to fail. Lean on the Lord, depend on His strength, and He will support you every step of the way. Put the past behind you. Look forward, and keep focused on the end goal.

God, through the prophet Isaiah, encouraged Jewish exiles to think about a new beginning as well. God said, “Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old” (Isa. 43:18). He told them to stop dwelling on their punishment and even on His display of power through the original exodus from Egypt. He wanted their attention to be focused on God who would give them a new beginning by bringing them home from Babylon through a new exodus (v.19).

With God, new beginnings are possible in our hearts. He can help us to let go of the past. Relationship with Him provides a new hope for all who will trust Him.

The Hebrew remnant was facing the arduous trek back to the Promised Land and the demands of rebuilding their lives. Certainly, a feeling of insecurity must have filled their hearts. Yet the Lord was with them and would provide protection and success.

Today, perhaps more than ever, we also need to trust in God’s provision. Inevitably, challenges of transition, new circumstances, and an uncertain future can cause anxiety. Yet the living God gives us this promise: “I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert” (v.19). No matter what difficulties we encounter, God will find a way for us. No load is too heavy for Him.

(Acknowledgements Marvin Williams).

Appropriately, today's music is “God Will Make a Way” - presented by Janet Paschal.

Click on the picture to listen.

March 11 – mothers

^"The angel came to her and said, “You are honored very much. You are a favored woman. The Lord is with you. *You are chosen from among many women.” - Luke 1 NLV

In my opinion, when God made mothers, He produced the most powerful, influential force ever to live. Like potters, mothers mould and shape the 'clay' of a newborn infant. Throughout childhood they kneed, stretch, and when necessary, they 'knock back' the clay when errors occur to reshape their desired design – when grown, an adult of character who loves and serves God and his fellow man. Yet, how many times do you hear a woman answer the question “What do you do then?” reply with, “Me? O, I'm only a mother and housewife.”

William Ross Wallace possibly had these thoughts in his mind when in 1865 he wrote a poem titled “What Rules the World”, that praises motherhood as the preeminent force for change in the world. Most of us are familiar with the poem's refrain - “The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world”. How very true.

Charles Swindoll lists the following characteristics needed by a mother: Transparent tenderness, authentic spirituality, inner confidence, unselfish love, and self-control.

Quite a list, isn't it? Almost more than we should expect. Perhaps that explains why Erma Bombeck used to say that motherhood takes 180 movable parts and 3 pairs of hands and 3 sets of eyes . . . and, I might add, the grace of God. Yet all mothers are not the same. Author and speaker Patsy Clairmont says, “Normal is just a setting on your clothes dryer.” We are all different. She shared that as women we may “struggle, fail, start over, and celebrate.” But we are mothers who can love unlike any other person (CBN).

Kelcie Huffstickler writing about her feelings as she thought about how she was preparing herself for her child to start kindergarten – the dreaded time when she handed control of her daughter to strangers. She was confident she would go with lots of laughs and good memories under her belt, but would she have a strong foundation of knowledge and security on which she could build the rest of her life? Kelcie came up with five foundational truths she hope to instill in her by the time she started school. They are:

1. God is good. This is really the most important truth in the universe, and if we deep-down believe it, all the other pieces fit together. I want my daughter to understand that God is good, and that everything He does is good. It’s our vision that’s often skewed.

When she starts school, she will undoubtedly be faced with struggles and situations that are new to her. I pray her faith is stronger than the questions, the doubts, the fears, and that no matter what darkness she encounters, she knows God is good and that the broken pieces somehow create a masterpiece.

2. Her family will ALWAYS be here for her. I want her to know that she knows that she knows she has unshakeable love and security in her family. We are her people. And though we’re broken and imperfect, we will be here for her every day that she lives. When she messes up. When her friends hurt her feelings. When she gets cut from the team. Her family is here for her and there is nothing that will ever change that.

3. She is perfectly created, unique, and special. I want her to know she’s a one-of-a-kind creation, made exactly the way God wanted her. He gave her her personality, her temperament, her gifts, abilities, and sensitivities because He wants to use her in a special way for a special purpose only she can fulfill.

4. We should love our neighbors as ourselves. To be honest, this is a tough one because it’s probably “caught” more than “taught.” Does she see her daddy and me loving our neighbors without reserve? Do we give freely? Do we speak kindly and view all men as image bearers of God? I hope she can say yes because this is our desire. And we pray she learns to do the same. Even the bully at school. Even the person who looks or smells different. May she love them the way Jesus does.

5. The reason we live is to bring glory to God. I want her to know that our purpose in life is to bring glory and honor to our Creator. It’s the only reason we’re living and breathing on this earth. It’s the reason we get up in the morning, the reason we get married and have children, the reason we go to school or to work, the reason we love our neighbors, use our gifts, and enjoy our families. He is the purpose of it all. I want her to know that everything she does has eternal value so nothing in life is meaningless.

Yes, the hand that rocks the cradle really does rule the world. From the beginning of time this has been true. The Bible, over and over again demonstrates the power of motherhood as they shaped, guided and grounded their children's lives in preparation for their future lives.

There can be no greater illustrations of the power and influence of God-fearing women and rocking cradles than Mary, mother of Jesus, and Elizabeth, her cousin, mother of John the Baptist. John, who was destined to a wilderness life, preparing the way for Jesus. Jesus, to die a sinner's death in our place and give us salvation - our Redeemer.

Never, ever say “Me? O, I'm only a mother and housewife.” Remember, it's your hand on the cradle. What lies ahead for your child!

Click on the picture for today's music – The Isaacs “Walk Together Children”

March 10 - He's on it!

Isaiah 40:31 "....but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles  they will run and not grow weary  they will walk and not be faint”.

Life has hit the skids. We've begged, we've pleaded....we've prayed, day and night for God to intervene . Seemingly for eternity. The days, weeks, months, and in many cases, the years, have passed and we are still waiting, and wondering why God hasn't at the very least replied to our pleas. But think about it. God has replied. He always does, but we just don't always like His decision – we're human – impatient. It's hard to trust in God's timing. We are a people who want what we want and would prefer it right now. Not told to wait, or, maybe even accept an alternative.

There is never a time in which He is not aware of the desires of our hearts. He does, however, know better than we do, whether what we want to happen, is necessarily good for us. Sometimes His timing may be just the amount we need to see that what we thought we needed, we never did, or that the waiting made the receiving that much better. His timing will always be perfect, even when our trust in it is not. In His time, your time will come.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens”

There are many times in our lives when we wish things would move along a little more quickly. We just want it to be over as soon as possible. It's natural to want to look ahead, but we run the risk of missing the things God needs us to see at this time - the very lessons that will so benefit us in the season to come. He is not ignoring us when time seems to stand still, but rather keeping us in the present to prepare us for the next step.

Every good and loving relationship requires a degree of patience. We hope that by allowing someone time to grow, and the grace to do so, we will eventually receive our reward for waiting. We put our trust in God, but waiting for Him to take action can be frustratingly difficult.

The difference in a relationship between God and humans, is that with God your patience is always rewarded. It may not fit with your time schedule, and you asked because you want to see a bit of the action NOW, and when something does happen, it may not look the way you thought it would, but it will come exactly when it was supposed to. Give God a chance to do His work, and allow Him to do it on His schedule. He can see the end from the beginning. He will make everything work out just right, just as He sees fit, and He will do it.... right on time.

(Adapted from an article by Jada Pryor, www.patheos.com)

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand....For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.” - Isaiah 41:10-13

The Gaither Vocal Band present “I Do Believe (LIVE)v as our music for today.  Click on the picture to join in.

March 2-3 – Scatch the Itch

“The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, And rescues them. O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! O fear the LORD, you His saints; For to those who fear Him there is no want”. Psalm 34:7-9

How do you deal with your grotty, miserable days? I, like Barbara Lardinais like to bury my head in a good book – guaranteed to take my mind to a different level and send the blues flying away.

In Barbara's case, the book she selected from the shelf in her library was The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom. It had been some twenty years earlier that Barbara had read this remarkable, true story of Corrie and her sister Betsie's time in a Nazi concentration camp. Corrie and Betsie were sentenced for hiding Jews in their home during World War11. If you haven't read it, do. It is hard to find a greater testimony of faith, trust, and commitment to God under the most cruel, brutal treatment they received twenty-four hours of every day.

Barbara picks up, in the book, “…. a little incident about fleas that is worth repeating. Corrie and her sister had miraculously smuggled a Bible into their barracks and they were holding nightly worship services for hundreds of women. One night in their private devotional time they were reading this passage in I Thessalonians; “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances”. Betsie immediately felt that giving thanks in their current condition was God’s answer to how they could survive each miserable day.”

Despite her strong faith, “Corrie was doubtful but went along as Betsie began thanking God for EVERYTHING. But when Betsie thanked God for the horrible infestation of fleas they were living with, Corrie felt that went too far. At Betsie’s insistence, she finally managed to choke out her “thank you” but felt Betsie was dead wrong to give thanks for fleas.

In the meanwhile, their little congregation grew and grew and as no guards ever bothered them, they became bolder and finally started a second service after the evening roll call. Months went by until one afternoon Betsie found out why they were left to operate their makeshift church without interference. It was the fleas. When asked to settle a dispute, the guard refused to enter the door to their dormitory. She said; “That place is crawling with fleas!”

So the fleas were a blessing after all and God used them to make room for worship inside one of the worst hell holes on earth. When viewed from that perspective, Corrie could finally see a reason to thank God in all circumstances. Each of us would be wise to follow her example.

We are human, and there are times when we choke on the thought of giving thanks for many of the circumstances we find ourselves in, but how do we know what hidden blessings are in our own “fleas”?

With Barbara, right now, I urge us to pick the hardest, most unlikely thing in your own life and thank God for it. We may not see it right away but a time will come when God will turn it into a blessing – just like those blessed fleas.

(Acknowledgements Barbara Lardinais, Hannah's Cupboard)

Click on the picture for today's music - “The Promise” presented by The Martins.

February 23 – Promises, promises

“…Then what was spoken through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and refusing consolation, because they are no more” - Matthew 2:17,18

Are things worse now, in 2018, than ever before? Or is it just that there is more media reporting the extent of the atrocities and abuses taking place daily around the world? Day after day TV and radio tell graphic accounts of yet more lives that have been taken, destroyed, or changed for ever. Hatred, wars, persecution, abuse and human slavery are fast becoming just another event – like the weather forecast. It would be easy to think that there is no hope for mankind as it spirals downward....but thank God for God!

This has all happened before. The Bible tells us that the last days on earth will be like the days of Noah. “ But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” - Matthew 24:37-39 KJV

God however gave Noah and his family a promise – a promise that is for all generations, no matter the state of the world, reminding us of this promise, His covenant, with a huge, glorious rainbow in the skies.

This is where rainbows come from. The world at that time had degenerated to a level of depravity that was irreversible. God cleansed the earth with a flood which destroyed the whole earth. God protected Noah and his family until it was safe for them to leave the ark.. Can you imagine how lonely you would feel if everyone on earth was destroyed and you were the last people left? So God planted a great big rainbow in the sky to remind us that no matter how bad and corrupt the world may become, His promises will never fail.

The Lord's covenant is yours, and mine, and every person that would ever live on earth. About the bow he said; “This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth.” (Genesis 9:17) Our security in God.

“You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, And called from its remotest parts And said to you, 'You are My servant, I have chosen you and not rejected you. Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.' "Behold, all those who are angered at you will be shamed and dishonored; Those who contend with you will be as nothing and will perish.…” Isaiah 41:10  New American Standard Bible

Next time you have the privilege of seeing a rainbow, smile and offer thanks to God for his wonderful bow of hope and promise.

Today's music choice is “Faithful One” presented by Robin Mark.  Click on the picture to listen.

February 16 – He will lead me

"The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.  Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies.  You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.  Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever" - Psalm 23.

Looking back, how different is your life now when compared with the dreams and ambitious plans you had when you set out on life? Fresh from school or college, head in the clouds, life looked exciting - you couldn't wait to get started. Or, perhaps it was the opposite and you dreaded leaving the nest alone to face an unknown world?

What is your motivation? Success will depend upon who your chosen guide and advisor had been, and continues to be. Many Bible characters faced the same dilemmas....

What did Abraham ever do to make himself famous or insure a lasting legacy? What career ladders did Joseph climb to become Prime Minister of Egypt? Who “handled” David during his reign as king over Israel? As a matter of fact, did any of the famous Bible characters imagine that people down through the centuries would remember or talk about them?

I can’t see where even one Bible hero promoted his or her self. It was always God who did all their promo work. Just think: there was no media hype, sound bytes, book signings, record deals or Internet blogs. They didn’t hire slick advertising agencies to figure out how to project a favorable image or advance their careers.

As we do God’s work upon the earth, we need to keep these true heroes in mind. God has a divine destiny for each one of us and he has a path to success to achieve it. In the end we may or may not become known to the world. Many obscure saints will have thrones and authority in heaven that they never experienced on earth. We are wise not to measure success as the world measures it.

Are you waiting on God for your next step? That’s good – you are in the best company with men like Daniel, Isaiah, and Samuel. Maybe you will become famous like some of them and maybe not. Check your heart for motives and then let God decide.

(Acknowledgements Hannah's Cupboard)

As usual,to listen to today's music, click on the picture. - “Be my Guide” sung by Brian Thiessen

February 10 - Safe

“He will swallow up death for all time, And the Lord GOD will wipe tears away from all faces, And He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth; For the LORD has spoken”.
Isaiah 25:8

You all know the feeling of loss when someone who, over the years, you have grown to love, and respect, dies. At the moment our church members here in Netherfield are grieving the loss of our oldest member – Eleonore Stoltz.

Death of a loved one seems to sneak up on us and surprise us unaware – even when in our hearts we know it’s coming and have time to prepare for it. Either way, despite our self-denial, the result is the same . . . the outcome is final. That person we love is now missing from our lives. So, we mourn.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Eleonore's family at this time, and also with the millions of grieving people in every country, race, and creed around the world who today, are united by their mourning at the death of a loved one. May they be comforted in the knowledge that their loved ones are resting for just a little while until the day of the resurrection when they will be reunited, never to part again.  As a church, and individual members, we give thanks to God for Eleonore's life, and the years as together we worshiped Him.

Jesus promised us that He WILL return again:

“For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord”. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 ESV.

In the New Testament's 260 chapters, Christ's return is mentioned no less than 318 times. Statistically, one verse for every 25 pages of the Bible refers to the return of Jesus Christ in some way, shape, or form. Combine that with the pointers in the Old Testament making no mistake about it: Jesus Christ WILL come back again.

Jesus assured us in John 11: 25-26 of eternal life in heaven for all those who belong to Him. Those comforting words give us hope for the future . . . but in the short term, grief can feel overwhelming.  We can be assured however, that Jesus Christ will never leave us. He sees every tear and hears every desperate cry, and His love and comfort are everlasting.

We never know the day, time or hour when we will be either called to our rest, or when Jesus will return – our lives are as long or as short as our next breath, or His appearing. Regardless. Eleonore was ready. She loved her Lord passionately and looked forward with great anticipation to the new heaven and earth. Let us look forward as confidently that when that day arrives, we too are prepared and ready.

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever" – Revelation 21:4

“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” - 1 Corinthians 15>55

Click here to listen to today's music sung by Tanya Goodman Sykes - Look for me (LIVE)

February 2 – New Beginings, part two.

“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” – Matthew 24:36.

Yesterday's blog looked at the enforced 'new beginings' which took place in Joseph's life – changes which took Joseph from slavery to governor of Egypt. Throughout his faith and dependence on the Lord never wavered.

In contrast, William Miller chose the 'new beginings' that formed his young adult years. Driven on by his belief that there had to be a good God, and that the Second Coming of Christ was imminent, he dedicated his life to research of Bible history in an effort to determine an exact date for that Event, and traveling extensively, urging all and sundry to prepare themselves to meet their Maker. .

“William Miller's mother was a woman of sterling piety, and in childhood, he had been subject to religious impressions. In early manhood, however, he was thrown into the society of deists, whose influence was the stronger from the fact that they were mostly good citizens and men of humane and benevolent disposition. Living, as they did, in the midst of Christian institutions, their characters had been to some extent moulded by their surroundings. …. yet his new belief, while setting aside the Bible, offered nothing better to take its place, and he remained far from satisfied.”

Great Controversy, p.318

We are familiar with the influences of our peers. Miller was surrounded by a group of friends, good people is the evidence in the passage, who were deists. What a deist is doesn’t matter, what does matter is that the new belief did not satisfy his needs.

I love Miller’s response. He realised that there might be a being so good and compassionate as to save people from sin. Miller found that only the Bible could give evidence of such a Saviour. He decided that the Bible was a revelation from God and found great enjoyment from learning all the things that other people found to be secrets and mysteries.

Miller began traveling and delivered more than 300 lectures with the constant theme – 'Are you ready to meet your Saviour?' There is a deeper appeal here though. William Miller was not the man who would leap feet first into any new idea. It took 12 years for him to decide that he ought to study the Bible. It took many years for him to realise he had a personal responsibility to tell other people of his findings, becoming author of “Evidence from Scripture and History of the Second Coming of Christ, About the Year 1843', and editing two journals – New York's Midnight Cry, and Boston's 'Signs of the Times'.

The obvious encouragement for us is … read your Bible. You will find great truths and may become immersed in thought processes which bring real satisfaction. Miller took his time. We shouldn’t. Centuries have passed since the Millerites and their followers were disappointed when the year 1843/4 c\me and went without the return of Christ. William wrote: "We have passed what the world calls the last round of 1843 … Does your heart begin to quail? Or are you waiting for your blessed hope in the glorious appearing of Jesus Christ?" In contrast, we are very close to Christ's return.

William Miller may have taken twelve years, but this serves as a cautionary Word for us today, “I tell you, now is the time of God's favour, now is the day of salvation.” - 2 Corinthians 6:2.

If you find yourself in the starting blocks of a new beginning, and you believe God has purposed your journey, trust Him no matter what. He is in control and has a plan. If you remain obedient to God, you will see His purposes and blessings unfold and receive all the abundance and reward that He has for you, ultimately forgetting all the injustices that occur along the way.

(Acknowledgements Pastor Peter Jeynes and Christianity Today.com).

Today's music is "Midnight Cry" - the Gaither Vocal Band.  Click on  the picture to listen.