Posted by: Jo | April 22, 2024

Running The Race Of Life

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

(Hebrews 12: 1)

Athletes around the world are preparing with excitement and dedication to the upcoming Olympics in Paris. Four years of intensive work has been part of their daily life. I saw some of these promising ones being interviewed on the Television and their passion for their sport was evident. 

The writer of Hebrews calls living the believer’s life, is a race marked out for us and just like the Olympic runners we must run, not to compete with other runners, but to run this race fixing our eyes on Jesus who is our coach, our guide always ready to encourage us with his love. 

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus the author and perfector of our faith who for the joy set before him, endured the cross, scorning it’s shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12: 2)

The other section of the interview I was watching, focused on the uniforms that had been chosen to show which country they were representing. They were different designs and colours, but the one important feature on every shirt was the country they were going to represent blazoned on the front to proudly proclaim, it was not them, but the country who would take the glory. 

When we race the race of life, we are representing Jesus Christ and there is a beautiful verse in Paul’s letter to the Galatians that tells us when we are followers of the Lord, we are clothed in him. 

“For all of you who are baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves in Christ.” (Galatians 3: 27)

So, we can proudly run with his name emblazoned on our clothing. 

Staying on his path also requires dedication and daily training so we don’t lose heart or stray off on to other paths that are not God driven. The writer of Hebrews warns us to throw off everything that hinders us and entangles us. So how do we do that?  How do we keep our spiritual bodies fit to keep the pace. Human runners have coaches, but we have the most incredible trainer ever possible, The Holy Spirit. We need to stay in touch with him, daily/prayer/reading God’s word/always running with other believers. 

When we run with other believers, we are not competing with them. but running in unity, always looking out for others, helping the weak to keep going.  

Ecclesiastes encourages us with this verse:

“Two are better than one because they have good return for their work. If one falls down his friend can help him up.” (Ecclesiastes 4: 9 – 10)

So let us run the race boldly, fixing our eyes on Jesus and caring for those running with us. 

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Posted in Inspiration, Encourage, Challenge, Hebrews, Colossians, Acts, Ephesians, Ecclesiastes | Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Posted by: Jo | April 16, 2024

Rebuilding Broken Walls

“They replied, “Let us start rebuilding”, so they began this good work.”

(Nehemiah 2: 18)

Just recently one of my granddaughters and her husband had destructive water damage in their town house. Water flooded from a broken pipe damaging walls and floors, rebuilding these walls was necessary. When walls are damaged anxiety and fear erupts as what was once protective no longer is. 

We have a wonderful story in the Old Testament about this. Nehemiah had been in Israel when enemies destroyed Jerusalem and the Israelites had been dispersed, eventually he was able to get King Cyrus to allow him to back. He was horrified to see the walls once protecting Jerusalem were shattered, but he knew God had a plan and he rallies those who were still there to have the courage to rebuild. 

What protects us in life can also be shattered leaving us feeling defenseless and fearful, it may be not always brick walls, but a sudden unexpected change in our lives, a job loss, the loss of a loved one, natural disasters destroying complete homes, but there are also other times in life when we feel defenseless. I have a dear friend who has suffered a stroke, waking up in an unfamiliar hospital room, has left her feeling that all that had made her feel secure has gone. 

In ancient days, cities were surrounded by a fortress, a solid wall to prevent intruders and keep all inside safe. This is what Nehemiah was gathering others to repair. The image that God is our fortress is repeated over and over in Scripture. 

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my rock in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” (Psalm 18: 2)

When life looks like it is crumbling around us, the strong fortress who is our God will protect us, take away anxiety and fear. 

The other lesson we learn from Nehemiah’s story is that others gathered around him to help him to rebuild. We also can do this for others. When the water damage upset my granddaughter and her husband’s lives, family stepped in, finding a place to stay, minding their little son, providing meals, slowly building new walls to take away anxiety and worry. The same for my friend in hospital, family took turns to stay with her, friends came by with love and reassurance so once again she could feel the fortress that God was giving her. 

We need to be aware when someone we know is facing damaged walls in their life and when we can step in and help with the re building. Most of Paul’s letters remind his readers to encourage one another, we can do this and remind them that they have a Fortress surrounding them, their Loving Father. 

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

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Posted in Comfort, Encourage, Isaiah, Nehemiah, Philippians, Psalms, Thessalonians | Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Posted by: Jo | April 4, 2024

Sorrow Turned To Joy

“The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  He is not here, he has risen, just as he said.  Come and see the place where he lay.”

(Matthew 28: 5 – 6)

This beautiful revelation is such a joy for us to read, but imagine the two women who heard it, they had just witnessed the death of their beloved Jesus and the sorrow of the last three days must have been overwhelming, and yet  here they are being told he is alive, imagine the joy flooding through their whole beings, and still more joy the promise that they are just about to see him. They still must have wondered if this was true.

“So the women ran back from the tomb, afraid, but filled with joy, and ran to tell the disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them, “Greetings” he said, they came to him, clasped his feet and worshipped him.” (Matthew 28: 8 – 9)

We have just celebrated this amazing revelation that Jesus had risen from the dead. We too can be filled with that same joy. If we check a concordance to see where joy is mentioned, we would have to scroll through pages. Joy is the beautiful gift of knowing and being with Our Heavenly Father. Psalmists sing for joy, shout for joy fill their hearts with joy. David realises that when he is in the presence of the Lord he is filled with gladness and joy.

“Surely you have granted him eternal blessings and made him glad with the joy of his presence.” (Psalm 21: 6)

Nehemiah in the Old Testament learnt an amazing blessing of taking joy in the Lord. He found he could keep going even during trials. He was in the ruins of Jerusalem, rebuilding the broken walls, was being attacked by enemies trying to stop him, yet in the midst of all this turmoil he urged the children of Israel to gain strength from the joy of serving the Lord. 

“Do not grieve because the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8: 10)

Paul has this beautiful blessing for the recipients of his letter to the Romans. 

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15: 13)

So how do we learn to rely on the gift of joy? 

When we go back to the countless words in Scripture describing joy, we can learn from the experiences of others. Being in the presence of the Lord brought great joy, caused people to praise him with loud shouts. So how do we seek being in his presence? We are welcomed into the presence of Our Heavenly Father, to spend time with him in prayer, praise, reading his word, listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit when we seek him constantly, then joy and peace will flood our souls.  

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Posted by: Jo | March 27, 2024

God Sometimes Says No

“When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.”

(Acts 16: 7)

When my grandson was younger, I would often help his parents by minding him at my home. One day after his mother had dropped him off, he exclaimed, I love coming here to your home there are no rules and you always give me whatever I ask you for and you never say no (probably thinking of that extra cookie). I was very touched, because I loved having him all to myself and spoiling him, but then I felt I had to be honest about telling him that yes there would be times when I would need to say no, explaining that if he wanted to try a dangerous escapade, I would have to say no. 

Our Heavenly Father is a loving Father who listens to our pleas and does say yes, but there are sometimes when his answers no. There is an excellent example of this is Acts chapter 16, where Paul and Silas Paul and his companions, were spreading the good news of Jesus Christ and had planned exactly where they are, though the best part of the world was to do this. They must have been surprised to find that what they wanted to do was not what God wanted them to do. 

“Paul and his companions travelled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia.” (Acts 16: 6)

We too may be surprised when we are blocked from moving forward in our lives that we feel is the right thing to do. This is never a form of punishment that we might think when we are disappointed, but the guiding hand of our Heavenly Father who has a better plan for us., which was the case for Paul. 

There is a beautiful verse in Jeremiah that is a great one to remember when we are confronting a big decision in our lives. 

“Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is and walk in it and you will find rest for your souls.” (Jeremiah 6: 16)

If we spend time in prayer and earnestly ask the Lord, what should we do, he will answer with the best way forward as a loving Father for his child, but we can get so caught up with what we want, we forget to consult the Father, even thinking that our way is perfect so no need to bother asking. 

Proverbs is full of wisdom and this telling verse reminds us that our own understanding can be limited, so trust our Heavenly Father. 

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3: 5 – 6)

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Posted by: Jo | March 6, 2024

Opening Doors

“Here I am. I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with me.”

(Revelation 3: 20)

Many years ago, I volunteered with a Christian group in an outreach to single mothers and their children. We began in one woman’s home, but as we increased in numbers, we were offered a place in a church. We were allowed to use their kitchen, a large common room and even a daycare room. Our group gathered in prayer together before we moved and felt we should name what was becoming an organization. That was the start of “The Open Door”. We felt an urge to open doors for these women struggling with looking after their children often with low incomes, some having left abusive relationships, many very lonely, and as we opened doors of hope, fellowship, and love, we wanted them to eventually to hear the loving voice of their Savior and open the door to him. 

The gospels remind us that when we open the door to the Savior, we have his complete attention. 

“Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, he who seeks finds and to him who knocks, the door will be opened,” (Matthew 7: 7 – 8)

As we got to know the women, we discovered they didn’t realize that this beautiful invitation was even there, let alone for them. We had to lead them to the door so they could open it for themselves. 

We who are believers don’t need to belong to an organization to open doors for others, we can begin by our actions, our concern for others, willing to make friends with those who are lonely, to step out of our comfort zone to mix with different cultures, all the time remembering who we represent. One of my favorite verses which I try to keep in mind, is found in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. 

“You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of human hearts.” (2 Corinthians 3: 3)

We ourselves must be open hearted people, who are open to questions about who we serve, we know that some people seem to be unapproachable. It is hard to always be ready to spread the good news. One of our young pastors shared a personal story that I thought was very brave of him. He was on holidays and going skiing and was in cable car with several others going up the mountain and a man he didn’t know, asked him where he worked. He had to say he worked in a church, the man was very interested and wanted to know what he did there. He found suddenly the whole cable car was listening. He was honest enough to admit to us he wasn’t ready, but with a quick silent prayer he remembered he was a letter from Christ and was open to sharing the good news. 

One of my favorite choruses

Open the eyes of my heart, I want to see you.

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Posted in 2 Corinthians, Challenge, Corinthians, Encourage, Inspiration, Matthew, Revelation | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Posted by: Jo | February 24, 2024

Practice Hospitality

“Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”
(Romans 12: 13)

I have a large family and have always loved to cook, so gathering my loved ones together and feeding them brings me great pleasure. My Lenten study I am presently reading has made me think more deeply about how I practice hospitality. This series takes a passage from the book of Acts chapter 16 and how different writers see the characters portrayed. Paul and Silas are heading to Philippi for the first time, and they want to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. They meet a group of women who have gathered to pray on the Sabbath beside the river and begin to tell them about Jesus. 

My first awakening about hospitality came through a woman named Lydia 

“One of the listeners was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira who was a worshipper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.” (Acts 16: 14)

This lady was very wealthy and probably highly respected for her position in the community, but the moment she believes in Jesus none of that seems to matter as she humbly asks Paul and Silas would they consider coming to stay at her house an awakening for me. She knew nothing about these men, she practiced the hospitality our Lord would love to see. 

“When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said. “Come and stay at my house”.  And she persuaded us.” (Acts 16: 15)

Wealthy people who live in our community often invite others for dinner, but the reason is often to promote their business.  Lydia did it for her love for the Lord she had just met, I learnt from Lydia it is better to reach out with hospitality to those who need it. 

The next lesson I learnt from my study, was a far different character from the lower class, an ordinary jailer, who was probably paid a very small salary. Paul and Silas ended up in prison, to the amazement of all the other prisoners who were bound in chains with them. They began to sing and praise God, of course the jailer would have heard them. A mighty earthquake suddenly happens, and the prisoner’s chains fall off. The jailer decides to kill himself rather than face the consequences.  Paul begs him not to do that. The jailer kneels before them, wanting to know the God they serve. 

Next lesson for me. After he is baptized, he asks them to come and stay in his home It would have been a very simple dwelling. We don’t need to have a beautiful house elegant food to practice hospitality. The reaching out in love is the important message, a welcoming attitude, making others feel accepted, even asking someone who is lonely for a cup of coffee, even strangers we do not know. 

“Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertain ed angels without knowing it.” (Hebrews 13: 2)

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Posted by: Jo | February 15, 2024

Staying Close To God For Help

“So, do not fear for I am with you; do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

(Isaiah 41: 10)

My husband was an avid fisherman and loved teaching his children and grandchildren the art of fishing.  On one occasion we were picnicking at a local lake and my granddaughter who was only six years old decided she wanted to learn to fish like Grandpa, so of course my husband had extra lines and the lessons began. After about ten minutes, my little granddaughter turned to my husband and said, “Okay Grandpa. I get it! You can go now. I don’t need your help any longer.” Of course, the little girl was unaware of tangled lines, hooks caught in the weeds or lines falling short of the water. Sometimes we are very similar in our relationship with our Heavenly Father. We know he is always ready to help us, but like a little child, we think we have it all together and disregard his help. We want to do it our way.

Just like my little granddaughter, we can drift away from the help and guidance of our Heavenly Father and there are warnings about the danger of doing that.

“We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.”   (Hebrews 2: 1)

Scripture has many references to ever available help our Heavenly Father is always ready to give and the Psalmists knew this.

“God is our refuge and our strength, an ever-helper in troubler.” (Psalm 46: 1)

Sometimes it is hard to admit that we need help, and we even may see this as weakness, but by doing so we delay the compassionate help waiting for us by not turning to God in prayer.

I am learning this lesson of being willing to ask for help from my family as I am old and finding many tasks too difficult to do. My family beg me to ask for help instead hurting myself in attempting to do such things as heavy lifting.

One of the Psalmists realizes he has come to that place where he needs God and calls out to him.

“Yet I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, Oh God. You are my help and my deliverer; Oh Lord, do not delay.” (Psalm 70: 5)

There are beautiful words in Scripture describing how God protects us. He is our fortress, our deliverer, our shield, if we stay close to him, he will cover us with his shadow. Like a mother hen he will hide us under his feathers. I love the firm and safe description of he is our Rock.

I love the words of that old hymn that reassures us of this.

Rock of ages cleft for me.

Let me hide myself in thee.

We just need to remember to ask.

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Posted by: Jo | January 25, 2024

The Loving Protection Of Our Heavenly Father

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are!”

(1 John 3: 1)

I was born in Australia and my grandmother had a holiday cottage beside a lake that emptied into the ocean. At the entrance to the ocean was a long, beautiful beach where the waves rolled in majestically one after the other. We children loved to swim in the surf, with my father, but there were strict rules to us about going into the water. It was an isolated beach and we rarely saw anybody there and of course no lifeguards. Firstly, my father would check the waves as riptides could form in certain areas, so he chose the place to enter the water. Next rule he went in first as he was an excellent swimmer and liked to catch the waves, we children had to always stay directly behind him in the shallows, so he could always turn his head to count the heads, four of us, and know we were safe. 

I was thinking about my childhood the other day and as I remembered being on the beach, I thought this was a beautiful picture of how our Heavenly Father protects us. He goes before us; he knows the dangers ahead and we need to always to following his guidelines to stay safe.

The Psalmists were very aware of this beautiful promise and repeatedly wrote about it to remind themselves and others as they sang these worship songs. 

“Because he loves me, says the Lord, I will rescue him. I will protect him for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me and I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble. I ill deliver him and honor him.” (Psalm 91: 14 – 15)

Just as my earthly father had rules for us children, so does our Heavenly Father have for us. Another incident in my childhood reminds me of this. One time my younger brother and I forgot the rules and had been playing a game in the water and not being aware of how far we had wandered when suddenly our father appeared out of the water and scolded us. The consequence was to not being allowed to go into the water that day, so we had to sit on the beach and watch our sisters having fun in the water. Perhaps we thought our father was being mean, being totally unaware of his loving protection of us. It is the same for us, God’s laws are not being mean, he gives them to us as a covering for safety. 

When we realize this, we grasp the importance of staying close to our Heavenly Father through prayer and reading his word being aware that this will keep us from wandering into unsafe paths. The Psalmist understood this. 

“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119: 11)

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Posted by: Jo | January 14, 2024

The Birth Of The Church

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.”

(Acts 1: 8)

We had a new addition to our family, a darling little, baby boy and once more watching the miracle of life as this little one became a toddler who laughed and smiled at us, imitated our actions, and became a real personality, we grasped the fact that he would not remain a little one, but one day be a full, grown man. 

The disciples were shattered when Jesus told them, after the resurrection, that he was returning to the Father, and found it hard to believe that these few were about to spread the good news of Jesus Christ across the world and wondered how they could grow from 12 disciples to enough people to spread the Good News around the world. They would have to grow and become strong just like our little boy was doing. The Holy Spirit was about to bring about the mighty birth of the church by his power. 

Jesus kept his promise and when all the disciples were gathered in one room it happened. They were given the promised power. 

“Suddenly the sound of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each one of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them to.” (Acts 2: 2 – 4)

After Peter spoke to the crowd three thousand people were baptized and joined the disciples. 

The book of Acts is an exciting book to explore for it contains vital information and examples for us, who belong to the church of Jesus Christ. We too cannot remain stagnant and not be powerful in drawing others to find the Lord Jesus Christ. We can only grow with allowing the power of the Holy Spirit to guide us.  Just as our little boy cannot grow without the loving guidance of his parents, we need to heed the words of Our Heavenly Father and make sure we are constantly in touch with him through prayer and reading his word. 

We sing a beautiful song in our church service in which the chorus is, 

We are the church

This is a constant reminder of our unity in knowing Jesus Christ. The book of Acts gives us incredible examples of what this means, and we can learn to put into practice what those early believers learnt. 

“They devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” (Acts 2: 42)

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Posted by: Jo | December 29, 2023

The Prince Of Peace Has Arrived

“For to us a child is born to us a son is given and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

(Isaiah 9: 6)

This Christmas we celebrated the incredible, amazing arrival of the Prince of Peace. This beautiful arrival was forecast by the Prophet Isaiah in a turbulent time, when the children of Israel longed for the long-awaited Messiah to come and bring them the only true peace that only he could give. We, who know and follow Jesus, have received the most incredible of gifts, the gift of peace from the Prince of Peace. 

When Jesus was returning to the Father, he bestowed this gift as a reassuring promise. The disciples were sad and disturbed as Jesus spoke about leaving them, but then he said these beautiful words. 

“Peace, I leave with you, my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”  (John 14: 27)

Paul reminds all of us that the peace that Jesus surrounds us is not what the world promises, this peace is so heavenly that we humans are unable to understand it’s depth, but we can certainly feel it. 

“And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4: 7)

Paul uses the word guard, to warn us all, that the world might promise a certain peace, but as Jesus says it will not be the kind, he is promising us. 

One of the best ways to have that beautiful peace is to stay close to the Prince of Peace himself and we can do that by seeking him through reading his word and prayer, staying on the path of truth. 

Isaiah the prophet had learnt from trusting the Heavenly Father, always allowed peace to flow around him and this peace was like no other, it was perfect. 

“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” (Isaiah 26: 3)

The New Year is often the time when new resolutions are made to better us in some way, but Jesus is offering us a much more beautiful resolution.  Trust him and his words and let his peace flow around us. The perfect peace. 

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