In His Orchestra

We are all God's instruments.

Which one are you?

How does he play you?

Does he tune you when you need it?

Does he sooth you with the oil of his word?

Will he ever leave you alone in your case?

Will he forget that you're there?

Does our Father give up searching for the lost?

Will God ever give up on his children when we play the wrong note?

No, he will not stop caring for us. 

Waiting...

Some find waiting difficult.

Some jump at their first option rather than wait.

Some do this in small ways until they magnify. 

We become easily impatient in this fast-paced world. 

Everything must be done now.

Waiting on others, we are tapping our feet.

Waiting for a holiday, we are working hard.

Waiting on God, we are questioning how long?

When I think of waiting on God

I remember those who have done likewise.

Abraham and Sarah waiting for a child.

David waiting for God to deliver him from many perils.

The Israelites waiting to return to the promised land.  

Simeon waiting for the promised Messiah till old age.

The disciples waiting for the Holy Spirit.

And Christians now and over the years waiting for Jesus to return and restore.

God may take his time to fulfill his promises and answer our prayers.

But his timing is never late, it's just when he carefully planned it to happen.

If we try to rush and hurry things along it may not turn out as well.

So be patient and wait for God.

Unlike other people in life he can be relied upon.   

God's Love

Sometimes you look around you and everything is dark and dingy.
Other times you marvel at what you see...
You ask;  "how the creator who made all this could love a creature like you?"

Then you open his word and realise that he does.
Despite your turning away and rejecting him he still does.

God does not give up on you and he never will.
God even rejoices when we stumble because the will to walk to him is there.
God does not  love us rationally, but loves us simply and without incentive.
God our Father has loved us from the very beginning.

His love is super love.
Love, pure and simple.

Story

Everyone has a story.

Stories are everywhere.

There’s the story of an international student,

Trying to understand…

The story of a lady living in a nursing home,

Thinking of the past…

Stories of soldiers in distant places,

Waiting to return home…

In the future, past and present,

You can always find a story…

Everyone can tell a story,

When was the last time you paused to listen…?

Praise Be To His Name!

Undulating waves.

Rocks and fossils.

Colour, size and shape.

The Lord spoke and 

there they were.

Laughter, puzzles, books.

Food, walks, time away.

The Lord gave us the

ability to enjoy.

Songs, voices upraised.

Small communities of Christians.

Coming together as one by grace.

The Lord has provided in Jesus.

Praise be to his name! 

Memory

I can hurt
I can fade.
I can make you want to hide.

When you think over things said and unsaid.
When you think about what you have and have not done.
When you think on all things past and future.

I am memory.
I will not go away.
I am not entirely bad.

Some instances, you may recall,
are not just there to drive you up the wall.
Some make you smile and laugh and stand tall.

Although you may recoil and avoid
the recollections that you wish to forget and ignore.
Allow me to point to the times you have endured and had faith.

In all things faith and hope can be clung to.
In all circumstances you can be still and know that God is God.
In all things God works for the good of those who love him.

Rest and remember the merciful God who loves you regardless.
Rest and remember that through all your emotions he is with you.
Rest and remember that when you do not love yourself...

God always has and always will.

Easter

Jesus went to Jerusalem to die for us.

He didn’t have to save us.

He knew that his death would be agonisingly painful.

He died in our place.

We did nothing.

We are  weak and helpless.

He came in strength, mercy and love.

He came to save us from the curse of sin.

On the cross his body was broken and his blood was shed to make us whole.

Consider him.

A madman? A liar? A saviour?

Jesus is my  saviour.

Jesus the Messiah has saved us from condemnation.

We do not deserve his compassion.

We deserved death.

Jesus gave us life and hope.

God our  Father loved us.

He watched his children reject him, turn away and ignore him.

Again, and again, and again.

But… God still loves us.

God planned to bring us back to him.

God planned to send his son to repair what sin has broken.

God sent his one and only  son so that whoever believes in him will not die,

But have eternal life.

Jesus’ blood, his death and his return from death

Made us free from sin and clean before God

He made us right with God.

Able to be in his presence.

To love him.

To serve him.

To honour him.

To be his children.

Will you come to rejoice in him?

I rejoice in him with my brothers and sisters in Christ.

I have taken up my cross and I follow him.

It’s not always easy, but it’s always worth it.

This is the greatest story ever told.

This is the story of how God loved man.

This is the story of Easter.