‘Feel cold, Mordie?’ asks Nathaniel. But before Mordecai can answer young Elijah opines: ‘It’s always cold out here at night! Why ask such silly questions?’ Before Nathaniel can respond, Jacob interrupts with ‘Listen… can you hear… see something?’
Those lonely shepherds are instantly troubled. Maybe a hungry wolf. The nearby village is asleep, the sheep were asleep, now they’re disturbed. The shepherds pull their robes a little tighter and inch closer to a small fire.
(November 08, 2024) Norman and Margaret Moss share another precious meditation…
It was in the early days of charismatic renewal way back in the early 1970s that I (Norman) awoke one Saturday morning to find that I had lost the sight in one eye. Consequently with both eyes open all my brain was registering was grey mist.
Bad News Margaret drove me to A & E. There I was examined by two doctors who peered into my eye while holding a fascinated conversation with each other. At the end of it one of them slapped me on the back and said, ‘Bad luck old chap. You’ve lost the sight of that eye— you won’t get it back’ and immediately left the room followed by his colleague. Margaret and I were left sitting dumbfounded in the grey painted room!
The Old Testament has a collection 12 books called the ‘Minor Prophets.’ They are named ‘Minor’ not because they are unimportant but because they are short, the shortest of all being ‘Obadiah,’ also the shortest book in the Old Testament. Consisting of only one chapter of 21 verses it is easily ignored as not being particularly important.
However, rather than being ‘unimportant’ it is, in fact, a hidden gem but admittedly it can be difficult to follow without knowing the following underlying facts.
So sorry to hear that you went through such agonies with your toe (Trusting the Holy Spirit in Painful Times). What a lovely testimony to the gift of tongues. We’re sure that like ourselves you have encountered many people for whom a prayer in tongues was actually a known language. We rate that precious gift very highly! Thank you, Lord. Bless you for all your work and ministry. Norman and Margaret.
(July 12, 2024) Carol Round shares encouragement regarding trusting God…
Writing in my journal this morning, I poured out my heart to God. I was feeling like a failure. Hoping to accomplish some major tasks in 2024, I’d made four goals at the beginning of this year. I had set deadlines for three of the four goals. So far, I’d accomplished zilch!
Well… that isn’t completely true…
As my pen flowed across the lined pages of my journal, I asked my Abba Father, ‘Does that mean I’m a failure? Why didn’t I follow through?’ I could make all kinds of excuses but in my mind, there were none. Then, I heard that still, small voice reminding me of something I’d forgotten: ‘You were trying to accomplish those goals in your strength.’
Doing Things in Our Strength Hearing that still, small voice, I was startled. I quickly wrote in my journal, ‘I’m sorry, Father, for not asking for your help. I tried to do it in my own power. Thank you for the reminder.’
I’d fallen back into my old ways, pushing forward and trying to do things in my strength. For me, it was a wake-up call. A reminder.
Philippians 4:13 – ‘I can do all this through Him who gives me strength’ – was one of the first scriptures I memorised after rededicating my life to Him in my 40s. It’s a scripture I found myself clinging to at a critical time in my life. I was lost, needing direction as my life took a different path – a path I chose but never planned to be on.
Where Our Paths Lead I was led this morning to reread Philippians 4, as well as the commentary. Growing in Christ these past 20-plus years, I know this verse is often taken out of context. Paul, the author of Philippians, was specifically referring to the ability of a Christian to endure hardship and persecution. . Christians often take this scripture to mean they can do anything with God’s help. However, this verse does not teach us that we can accomplish any task simply because we’re saved!
Instead, in chapter 4, Paul emphasises he is just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. He is content whatever the circumstances. Paul knows that whatever he has, wherever he is, he can make it through anything with God.
Making it Through Anything While lamenting the failure concerning my goals, I realised I’d set those goals without asking for God’s direction. Maybe that’s why I feel like a failure.Focused on what I wanted to do this year, I didn’t seek God’s guidance.
Or maybe, my four goals were too lofty. Maybe God is trying to get me to slow down. I admit my propensity to tackle too much – a holdover from my younger years when I pushed and pushed to get things done. Focused on my agenda, I often overlooked the needs of others.
Looking over my goals again, I realise my excitement and confidence when I wrote them did not factor in interruptions, health issues, and worldly distractions!
So – instead of feeling like a failure, I cling to this: God loves us whether we meet our goals or not!
__________________________________________________ Carol Round is an author and inspirational speaker. Her encouraging articles have appeared in national and international publications, and she especially loves hearing from readers, saying ‘Feel free to share this post.’ For more inspiration, visit my blog at https://carolaround.com. Link: A Matter of Faith weekly column: carol@carolaround.com
We recommend these two books by Carol: Journaling with Jesus andcompanion The40 Day Challenge, knowing that they will help readers draw close to God – (See: http://bit.ly/2LGOvKN and Amazon author page: https://amzn.to/2pP5Yr6). _________________________________________________
(July 08, 2024) Norman and Margaret Moss share another precious meditation…
I (Norman) was suddenly taken by surprise at church on Sunday when a couple of young men trained a movie camera on me and asked, ‘What one word would you use to describe your father?’
‘Reliability’ I found myself answering.
Now I would have liked to have had more opportunity to say other things as well. After all, how can you describe a beloved Dad in one word? My father had many other qualities for which I honour him.
However it was a good answer in that it also describes our Father in heaven.
No – not about a sin, but about a place I used to go to, to make me a better person. Before Covid I went to the gym – many times, and I didn’t like it all that much.
You do the same things to get in shape, understanding it’s not just vain repetitions with weights and exercises but about your future. You do It again and again and one day you marvel at your change – you’ve lost weight and, hey, you’re looking good.
You’re able to do many more things, you’re breathing more easily… and your clothes fit you in a very enhancing way.
Needed: Spiritual Exercises! But there is another side to us all beyond the physical. We are spiritual beings, and the apostle Paul wrote about another ‘gym’ that he attended – and so should we.
(May 06, 2024) Carol Round encourages… and challenges –
A friend recently posted the following on social media: One encounter with God can change your whole life.
She added, ‘I’ve personally experienced many God encounters that created a 180-degree change in my life.’
Her post led me to ponder my own God encounters. My earliest childhood memories of experiencing God were in nature. I grew up in southwestern Louisiana, where I spent many hours outside inhaling His creation in the branches of a Mimosa tree and hiding from the world.
If you’re thinking, ‘How can such a title bring me encouragement?,’ please keep reading!
Recently I have shared several lessons we can learn from Paul’s letters. Here I plan to share some thoughts about Paul… who was originally known as ‘Saul’ (Saulus or Shaul, the Jewish name of Paul, Paulus).
Pre-conversion Luke tells us in Acts 7:58NLT about the stoning of Stephen: ‘The official witnesses took off their coats and laid them at the feet of a young man named Saul’ (possibly around 30ish then). And in Acts 8:1NLT that ‘Saul was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen.’
(April 19, 2024) Brian Bell shares ‘get real’ thoughts drawn from reading Paul’s 1Thessalonians 2NLT…
Perhaps like me, when you were growing up, you may have tried to imitate other people at times. In my generation it was not unusual for young boys to have a ‘cowboy suit’ which they would wear to ‘act’ like a real cowboy.
A television series The Lone Ranger was very popular then. In order to hide his real identity, the Ranger wore a face mask, although he was in his character role one of the ‘good guys.’ Zorro, another one of the good guys, also wore a mask to disguise his real identity.
When we come to Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians, although the word ‘real’ is not used by Paul, he reflects on how he sought to live without any pretence or disguise… and get real, be real!
Connecting with You! 