February 1 – New beginings

"I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come . . ."  ~ Isaiah 46:10

How many new beginings have you faced in your lifetime? Did you feel excitement? Apprehension at leaving the past behind, and relief, once the decision has been made, Followed by anticipation as you contemplated a future with hope and promise?

But for some, beginnings can feel treacherous – especially if emigrating to another country....letting go of comfortable, established relationships—colleagues, family members, homes and jobs — fear of the unknown. As in all new beginings our only certainty and security is to be found in God.

The Bible, and secular history, burst with characters who also lived through these emotions and had new beginings (sometimes on many occasions) throughout their lives. Take Joseph and William Miller as examples. To say that their lives were ones of new beginings, is almost an understatement.

The story of Joseph can be dated to the period between the 7th century BCE and the third quarter of the 5th century BCE, which is roughly the period to which scholars date the Book of Genesis.[2] (Wikipedia) and found in the Bible - Genesis 37-50. William Miller dates between 1782-1849 (Wikipeadia).

Margaret Mitchell, in her book “Enduring Grace” tells us that Joseph's young life began just prior to God setting him and his family free on a new beginning back to their native land (Gen. 30:25, 31:3). Highly favored by both his Heavenly and earthly fathers, and hated and betrayed by his brothers, Joseph was eventually sold to a caravan of Ishmaelites, which began his journey to Egypt (Gen. 37:27). Once there, he was resold to Potiphar, where he began a journey of slavery (Gen. 37:36).

In the beginning of Joseph's enslavement, Potiphar saw God's favor upon him and placed him in the highest position over his household and all his possessions (Gen. 39:3-4) 

Even when Potiphar's wife betrayed Joseph, which began his prison term, the warden took notice of God's favor upon him, putting Joseph in charge of other prisoners right at the outset (Gen. 39:23).

And immediately after interpreting Pharoh's dream, Joseph was placed in charge over Egypt (Gen. 41:43).  In the beginning of his new position of authority, he also began a marriage journey. Then a travel journey over Egypt.  And then a journey of parenting.

Holding onto God from the beginning and throughout, Joseph forgot all his troubles and became fruitful in the land of his suffering (Gen. 41:51-52).  Coming full circle, Joseph was able to feed the very brothers who betrayed him, sustaining their lives.

No matter what his circumstances, Joseph was blessed from every beginning. Determined to do the right thing, he handled his journeys with kindness, obedience, longsuffering, trust and patience. He was tested and refined  Crafted and fired, he emerged an overseer of a nation, blessing those who persecuted him Holding tight to his faithful God along the way, Joseph was consistently promoted and rewarded.

Only through obedience to God can we maintain divine favor from beginning to end amid our circumstances. God is the Alpha and the Omega (Rev. 21:6). It's simply a matter of whether we will cooperate His way along the way, even if it seems that so many of our new beginnings occur after a catalyst of discord.

(Margaret D. Mitchell. Adapted from “Enduring Grace”).

Tomorrow we will look at William Miller's life. In the meantime click on the picture for today's music – The Gaither's Vocal Band presenting “Alpha and Omega”

 

January 4 - A Fresh Start

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail, they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV

As Big Ben chimed to announce midnight and the start of New Year 2018, fireworks lit the skies, crowds of thousands in central London, cities and villages around Great Britain sang “Auld Lang Syne” - written in the 17^th cenury by the Scottish poet Robert Burns. “Auld Lang Syne means “Times Gone By”.

New Year rung in and resolutions made 2018 for good or bad had arrived. Did you make any resolutions this year? I didn'tmake a list either, having learned from experience that, like promises, they're easier made than kept. I just asked the Lord to give me His strength and grace to spend more time with Him in prayer and study. Unsequently I came across the following reading from a lady, Cathy Irvin, who had the same need, to make a commitment to increase her prayer time with the Lord and to stop eating sweets (the last part I didn't get around to).

Cathy says. “I believe it is the spiritual condition in my life that the Lord is the most interested in. He says in His Word that my body is a temple for the Holy Spirit. I found out long ago, those long lists of dos and don’ts either get lost or forgotten. The things that really matter to us, we usually work on, so I find it best to limit any desires each year to a few things and concentrate on the really important ones — whatever they might be.

Most people want a fresh start in life. Those who are sick want a clean bill of health. Those in financial trouble want to be out of debt. We can do these things, but we need to work on them one day at a time. I didn’t make any commitment last year but to love God more and to appreciate my family and friends. I think I made the grade, but only God has the score.

Try not to overwhelm yourself with too many good intentions. Just pray and ask the Lord what you might need to work on in your life, spiritually, financially, and maybe even how to improve relationships or your health, but don’t get bogged down with so many resolutions.

For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17 NIV

The Bible says to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. What is the Kingdom of God? It is righteousness, peace, and joy. If we have those three things most everything else will fall into place. If we seek to please the Lord and find out what He wants us to do, then it will all work out. I know He tells us to seek wisdom, so if we do that our health issues and financial priorities will change.

The Bible tells us His mercies are new every morning, so I will daily ask Him what He wants me to do. There is nothing wrong with accomplishing some short-term goals, but never let them consume your entire energy by making them so hard they are beyond your reach. Simply trust God to help you each step of the way!  Get a fresh start each year, but plan for a wise one too.

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail, they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV

Copyright © 2006 Cathy Irvin. Used by permission

Click on the picture to listen to today's music from Bryn's collection - “Jesus Hold my Hand” - Bird Youmans

 

THE BLESSING OF TIME

I know of a minister who at each New Year asks his congregation to bring something with them to church for a special blessing.  He asks them to bring their diaries, and at the end of the service they all hold them up as he asks God’s blessing on them.1

It is a way of getting people to think about how they will use their time in the year ahead, and about how to dedicate some of that time for the good of others.  

Time is one of our most precious gifts, and we are all blessed with exactly the same amount of it - sixty seconds in every minute, 60 minutes in every hour, 24 hours in every day, seven days in every week, twelve months in every year.  None of us has more or less of it than others, however much we may differ from each other in terms of financial wealth or measures of health.

The Biblical book of Ecclesiastes says that for everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.  A time to be born and a time to die.  A time to love and a time to hate; a time for war and a time for peace.  Eccl. 3:2,8.

So, whether your diary is a spiral-bound notebook, a hardback classic one, a mobile phone or other electronic device, I hope that it will record as the New year progresses and as 2018 eventually comes to a close a record of life-giving, peacemaking and joyful times – times spent doing good to others, as well as times of receiving friendship and love.

PRAYER

God of our world, of the universe, and of all that is, help us to fill our time with opportunities to do good.  Help us thus to fulfil your intention for us to be faithful to You, and exceedingly kind to others.  Amen.

1BBC Radio 4 Prayer for the Day, Vol. 1, p. 10

Pastor J. Ferguson

28 December 2017


Click on the picture for today's music - The Gaither's Vocal Band, Loving God Loving Each Another (LIVE)

December 8 - Excuses

Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations." Then I said, "Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth." But the Lord said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a youth'; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord." Jeremiah 1:4-10 ESV

You know that feeling. You're asked to do something important, and you feel SO inadequate with confidence at sub-zero. But you know, we're in it with good company – far from unique. 'Think of some of the people we read of in the Bible whom God used. They were utterly unqualified by human standards. Moses was a murderer. Jacob was a liar. Rahab was a prostitute. David had an affair. Elijah was suicidal at one point. Jonah ran from God. Jeremiah was considered too young. John the Baptist ate bugs. The Samaritan woman was divorced more than once. The disciples fell asleep when they were supposed to be praying. Peter denied Christ. Timothy had an ulcer. So what is your excuse?' (“Harvest:Greg Laurie”)

God had called each of these men and women to help Him with projects He had in hand that would not only change them, but the world also. But they were weak – inadequate – human. Over the years defeat had become etched into heir minds like a river carving itself through a mountain canyonb. Deeper and deeper it flows until it has sapped the very last dregs of confidence.

Most failures come from a history of excuses and a lack of perseverance. The excuses we make in our lives gives us permission to settle for less than God's best. It seems we always have an excuse for our shortcomings. We always have something or someone else to blame for our less-than-stellar lot in life. It is never our fault. We continuously brand our insecurities through seemingly justifiable alibis. We declare this is how it always is for us, for our families. We inhale the status quo and exhale the mundane.

When God called Moses, he came up with five cracking excuses, (Exodus 3:1-10). He was perhaps the most surprising person to pull the inadequacy excuse – to deny his calling, considering he had had a very privileged up-bringing as an adopted prince living in a royal palace, with the best available education. But still, when God called him, his courage failed and he saw himself as less than worthy.

'Closed doors don't always mean NO. Most of the time they mean that God has a bigger and better door. We must move forward and keep knocking.

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." Matthew 7:7 ESV

We get so immersed in the past and caught up on old technicalities we can't see hope staring at us through the dirty windows of our own self-appointed limitations. We are confined only by the walls we build ourselves. We can get so stuck in the rut of excuses we even make excuses for our excuses.

The Bible is littered with excuse-makers, starting off with Eve claiming it was all the serpent's fault and its erroneous ability to deceive her.

"Then the Lord God said to the woman, "What is this that you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate." Genesis 3:13 ESV

God is saying enough!

It's time to receive the victory God has in store for you. You can do all things through Christ who gives you strength! He can give you supernatural qualifications. He can cause you to be at the right place at the right time. If you speak life into your situation and speak faith into your circumstances, the favor of God and the blessings of Heaven will chase you down when you stop excusing them away.

The grace of God will supply all you need. Consequently, you will have no need for further rationalizations for lack of personal victory in your life.  Trust the Word of God and the plans He has for your life! God's plan says He will give you a new hope and a bright future.  Success will ultimately come to you when your dreams become bigger than your excuses.

Put to rest forever the old, makeshift justifications. Peel back the layers of excuse after excuse that are holding you back from God's best. Become a new creation in Christ and let the blood of Jesus and His salvation promises justify you, vindicate you, and excuse you from your excuses!

Through Christ, you are made new and made whole in every area of your life. Stop excusing away your dreams. Instead, grab hold of them. Start speaking life into your life. Let the promises of God settle in your heart, declare these truths, and let them override your regrets and rationalizations now.

When you give up your excuses you will find your results.

(Acknowledgments CBN)

Today's music, appropriately, is “Be Not Afraid” sung by Marilla Ness. Click on the picture as usual to listen.

December 2 -

“Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me” - 2 Corinthians 12:8-9

I can be a little bit shy about meeting people for the first time. Until the ice is broken and a relationship established, I don’t jump in with both feet – unlike some more “social” types. There is one close friend that I’m SO glad I got introduced to years ago.

We have a mutual friend and he was the one who opened the door to our deep friendship. It was Jesus and he introduced me to Grace. Romans 5:1-2 says; “We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand.”

With Grace in the room there is freedom from guilt. That’s a good thing because I was really guilty of bunches. I still am as I go day to day but Grace is always standing by to relieve me. Grace keeps reminding me that the total price of my sin was paid in full on the cross. Grace prompts me to pass forgiveness on. Each time I do I’m spreading Grace’s much deserved popularity.

As far as I’m concerned, I wouldn’t like to go anywhere without Grace. We have been inseparable since the first day Jesus brought us together. Have you yet met? First you have to know Jesus and then he will introduce you. I promise you a warm rich lifelong friendship.

If you are shy, don’t be about this introduction. You’ll always treasure that day of meeting Grace for the first time.

(Hannah's Cupboard)

Music today is Gaither Vocal Band “Sinner Saved by Grace” (LIVE). Click on the picture to listen

November 24 - Hallelujah

"As therefore you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so live in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving". (Colossians 2:6-7)

There's no place like home. Yesterday's TV newscast showed footage of jam-packed American highways as thousands of people vacated the cities to return ' home' in time to celebrate Thanksgiving with their loved ones. In America Thanksgiving is the traditional start of what they call the holiday season. As well as giving thanks, the focus is on the good, positive, rewarding parts of their lives, blessings they had received, over the previous year.

H. Norman Wright summed up the meaning by saying:

"Thanksgiving is not to be limited to only the times when we are aware of blessings. Let us give thanks even when we have a problem to solve, when there are difficulties to be met. At these times, we give thanks to God for unconditional love and goodness, for unlimited wisdom and abundance. When we give thanks continually, we are rejuvenated - spirit, mind and body."  Let us hold those thoughts and be thankful for all of our blessings.

A special day each year set aside for families to get together to give thanks is a wonderful idea. But what has happened that it takes a 'legislated' day to remind people that get-together's and thankfulness has to be scheduled into our diaries as commitments?  Our schedules are hectic, and life comes at at a frenetic rate. with the ever present need to problem-solve from sun up to sundown, life quickly becomes exhausting and overwhelming. And with that exhaustion and overwhelm often comes a forgetfulness of the good things in our lives.  We’ve been focused on the hard stuff, the urgent stuff, the not-so-good stuff and have missed opportunities to give thanks. But when we purposefully and consciously take the time daily to stop and give Him thanks, we’re able to put life into perspective – more so when we can share that time with our loved ones. (Crosswalk.com)

Some time ago I attended a health presentaton, during which the presenter, emphasising the need to keep healthy said, “Well, you can't praise God when you are in pain, can you.” It struck me at the time to be a ludicrous statement. If that were truly the case, there would be millions of severely sick and disabled people around the world who has never had a day without pain in their lives who would never give praise and thanks to God – in essence, blaming Him for their condition and circumstancess!

Even In My Darkest Hour, I Will Sing, I Will Praise, Because Your Word is True: About Praising God

By Betty Miller

Since the presence of praise is voiced continually in heaven, our voices should also be lifted up in praise to our Lord. In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 we are told to, “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” The Lord tells us here that we are to have an attitude of joy, thanksgiving and prayer at all times, no matter what the conditions or circumstances are that surround us.

This verse does not mean that we are to thank God for bad things and tragedies that come our way. It means that we are to remain joyful no matter what is happening in our lives because we have the Lord, and in Him we shall overcome no matter what the devil is trying to do to us. The Lord does not want us to thank Him for the bad things that happen to us because He did not send them. He is not the author of evil. We are not to become bitter over life’s circumstances, but rather to continue to rejoice in the Lord. It is the will of God for us to rejoice no matter what comes. It is not the will of God to receive evil things as from Him. It is an insult to God to thank Him for accidents, sickness, tragedy, etc. He does not send those things to us, the devil does. We are told to resist the devil, and submit to God (James 4:7: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”) We are to love and rejoice in the Lord in spite of what the devil tries to do to us.

Give you thanks for our friends, our families and our troubles. Yes, we give you thanks for our financial crises, our family stress and the ripples in our personal seas of tranquility. Through our troubles we learn to pray and appreciate the many blessings that seem greater when compared with the ripples of life. We give you thanks for our lives, your love and your Grace.

(Acknowledgements Bob Pickering; Crosswalk.com)


Music  choice today is  - "Thank you Lord for your Blessings" sung by Jeff and Sheri Easter.  Click on the picture to listen.

November 19 -

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” - Isaiah 1:18 KJV

I ended the blog yesterday by saying, “Talk your plans through with the Lord, and you won't go far wrong.” The response of some people to a comment like that however, is a confused frown and a comment such as, “Oh,yeah, and how do you propose I do that!”. “How can I talk to someone I can't see?” “How do I know there's really someone there?” “How do I know there's a God in the first place, let alone one who cares about what happens to me – let alone being able to listen to the millions of people in the world at the same time?” “What would I say?”

There's real confusion and dilemma in the mind of some people about a living, existing God, and prayer. There are so many opinions bandid around about prayer, and the correct/incorrect way to approach the Almighty, it's no wonder there's scepticism and individuals keep their problems and concerns bottled up inside to the detriment of their mental and physical health. How tragic when God is just waiting to listen, and take all the bags of troubles and problems we haul around with us day and night, in exchange for peace of heart, mind, and soul.

Jesus offers a personal invitation to each and every one of us. He says, “Come to Me, all those toiling and being burdened, and I will give you rest” - Matthew 11:28, and “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you” - 1Peter 5:7 NLT. “....rend your heart and not your garments " Now return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness And relenting of evil” - Joel 2:13, for, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” - Matthew 10:29-31

Someone may be thinking, 'That's all ok, but what do I do? How do I even start?'

Jesus is our Friend. What do you do when a friend calls to see you? - yes, we put the kettle on, make a drink, then kick off our shoes and settle down on a comfy seat to exchange all our news, or offer a word of advice, and maybe even, comfort. Just speak to Him as you would to them. He is inviting you by asking:

Are there any people you want to pray for? Say their names to me and ask me as much as you like. I'm generous, but trust me to do what is best.... Tell me aout your pride, your touchiness, self-centredness, meaness and laziness. I still love you in spite of these. Don't be ashamed, there will be many saints in heaven who had the same faults as you; they prayed to me, and little by little, their faults were corrected.

Don't hesitate to ask me for blessings for the body, and mind, for health, memory, success. I can give anything....

Tell me about your failures, and I'll show you the cause of them. What are your worries? Who has caused you pain? Tell me about it. Forgive them, and I will bless you.

Are you afraid of anything? Have you any tormenting, unreasonable fears? Trust yourself to me. I am here. I will not leave you.

Have you no joys to tell me about? Why do you not share your happiness with me? Tell me what has happened since yesterday to cheer and comfort you. Whatever it was, however big, however small, I prepared it. Show me your gratitude and thank me. What about your plans and hopes for the future? What are the children doing at school? Your frustrations at work and at home? Tell me about your life. Don't bottle up the anxieties and problems that occur as your family develops.  Each day, place them in my hands – they are my own too, I will watch over them.

Are temptations bearing heavily upon you....the overpowering urge to tell that neighbour once and for all exactly what you think of them – to tell your boss what to do with his job and unreasonable demands? Yielding to temptations always disturbs the peace of your soul. Ask me, and I'll help you overcome them. “Come to Me, all those toiling and being burdened, and I will give you rest” - Matthew 11:28. Who is there to condemn you? I am Christ Jesus, your Saviour and Redeemer who died, and more than that was raised to life. I am at the right hand of God--and interceding for you (Romans 8:34).

God has so many blessings, words of wisdom, and guidance through the minefields of our lives. He is just waiting for us to make time for HIM....time to TALK....time to LISTEN....peace of heart and mind for YOU.

“ For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” - Romans 8:38-39

Music today is, "I Just Came to Talk with you Lord", and "The Farmer and the Lord"

November 17 -

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” - Proverbs 3:5-6

A friend and I was talking about the times in our lives that we had felt a failure – the mistakes we had made, but thinking about it since, maybe it's the best thing that could have happened to us! Sounds illogical, but at the time we intended one thing and it turned into another, better option.

I came across an article written by Robert Hillyer in “This Week”. He tells the joke about a man who invented a stove that didn't work, but was just right to use as a wine-cooler in the summer. Then there was the New England eccentric who sent a strange cargo of warming pans to the West Indies of all places, and made his fortune when the locals discovered that the pans with their long handles, were perfect for cooking in a hot climate. After all, Columbus aimed at India and found America.

That made us feel a lot better, to know we're not the only ones to aim for the goose and hit the gander!

Day after day this occurs over and over again. Someone loses a job they have set their hearts on. Had they got it, it would have prevented them from taking a better one. The wrong book comes home from the library, and a new field of interest is opened up.

Robert knew of a college student who absentmindedly wandered into the wrong classroom and was so interested in the subject taught, took it up and made it his career. It's no surprise that someone so absentminded would become a professor.

TheApostle Paul knew all about this: “For what I do, I do not recognize as my own action. What I desire to do is not what I do, but what I am averse to is what I do” - Romans 7:15

It really is a fact that half the things that go wrong in life, surprise us by turning out all right. Talk your plans through with Lord, and you won't go far wrong.

“Father I Place Into Your Hands”, today's music. Click on the picture to listen.

November 10 -

“....a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

Luke 10:33-35

Helen Keller, profoundly deaf-blind from birth, said:

'I find life an exciting business. The most exciting when lived for others'.

Like the Good Samaritan, nurse Isabella Abbott had compassion for others and had spent twenty-five years dedicating her life to the care of thousands of strangers. Ask her “Why?” and she would have been at a loss to explain. All she knew was that from a small child all she had wanted to do was care for others, at times to the detriment of her own needs – twenty-five years of caring at times took it's toll on her own health, but caring was a need deep within her, as much as her need to breathe.

It was around this time that Isabella came across the following story:

A certain man was traveling on foot and came to a mountain pass. It was late in the autumn and snow had begun to fall as the man was climbing the steep slope. The trail was long and the man was benumbed and freezing. But, after great difficulty he reached the top, and there he found a stranger lying on the ground unconscious and near death from the bitter cold. Forgetting his discomfort the man hurried to the suffering stranger and began to massage his body and limbs vigorously and with all his strength.

Before long the stranger showed signs of life and, after much brisk exercising, was restored to full consciousness. The amazing thing the man discovered was that by working hard to save the stranger's life, he himself had become well and strong. He eagerly lifted up the stranger and together they descended the mountainside to safety.

Which of the two received the greatest blessing – he who gave the help, or he who received it?

"To love Him (God) with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

Mark 12:33

Click on the picture for today's music choice - “Why me?” sung by the Gaithers Vocal Band.

November 3 – Positive!

Written on the wall of a Warsaw Ghetto by a young unknown Jew, when all seemed dark and hopeless was the following statement of faith and trust in God:

'I believe in the sun, even if it does not shine. I believe in love, even though I do not feel it. I believe in God, even of I do not see Him.'

This young man believed in the power of exercising control over our thoughts. Just another unknown author who wrote: 'Sow a thought, and you reap an act. Sow an act, and you reap a habit. Sow a habit, and you reap a character. Sow a character, and you reap a destiny.'

Both of these individuals believed that good can come out of evil, and what we are/become is a result of what we think. Progress is often slow, and great results cannot be achieved at once. We must be prepared to advance step by step, one day at a time. We must sow before we can reap – in the meanwhile waiting patiently in hope that the best fruit often takes the longest time to
ripen.

In that old University of Glasgow, Adam Smith sowed the seeds and laboured long, laying the foundations of his Wealth of Nations, but seventy years were to pass before his work bore substantial fruit – and still continues today to do so.

In our personal and work lives, we make plans and set goals for ourselves and families – fine at the outset, but days turn into weeks and months and years, and doubt begins to set in that we will ever see these plans and goals come to fruition. Positive thinking goes out the window. This also applies to churches.

Like all small churches, Netherfield has spent many years reaching out to the local community, and it would be easy to despair thinking we are beating our heads against a brick wall as year after year we see no response to our efforts. But how do we know? How can we tell what is happening in the hearts and lives of the people we have contacted? We have worked hard, we have sown the seeds. The rest is up to God. But how easy it would be (and in the past has been) to elbow our way onto His territory and attempt to take over and do the whole job ourselves.

Don't we know that God is working His purpose out....in His own time. It's essential that like the young man in the Warsaw Ghetto, that we hang on to the belief that though at present, we cannot see the end result, the sun WILL shine – IS shining right now, as people listen to the still small voice. Maybe, as in the case of Adam Smith it will take many more years before the
harvest is reaped, but what a day that will be!

Our job right now is to stay focused, continue sowing, praying, and hanging on to our faith and belief, keep our thoughts positive, focused, and don't allow negative thoughts to intrude.

“One faith one hope one Lord” - the Gaithers vocal band is today's music. Click on the picture to listen.