Moments from this weekend... Sharing a late night cozy chat with teenage Sons, it was great fun to hang out with them and listen to them share their hearts... Being blessed by generous folk at church who blessed our eldest, just 16 with monetary gifts for his trip to Pennsylvania in less than two weeks, their kindness is really encouraging and I know that they will be praying for him. Seeing my daughter and niece wear matching outfits for church, very cute. An inspirational chat with an 83 year old lady who is always smiling - despite her fair share of troubles.

Making Good Progress

Just a last week during a Prayer meeting and bible study held in our home, one older lady commented on a concern that someone wasn't diligent in their spiritual walk... She responded quickly with such a simple answer that really spoke into the depths of my heart - 'never mind, that will come..! If their name is in the Lambs Book of Life then it'll come!'

Uncomplicated faith.

Of course she is right. We need not be unduly concerned about our young one's walk if they appear to be making slow progress. Sometimes our children will take great strides in Christian grace, compassion and zeal whilst at other time they will meander through quietly finding their way amidst the darkness of peer pressure and temptation.

It is our part to seek, His to grant what we ask; ours to make a beginning, His to bring it to completion; ours to offer what we can, His to finish what we cannot.

—Jerome (c. 345–419), biblical scholar and Latin Bible translator

Just like us, our teens and children will have peaks and troughs in their walk - we must continue to encourage, build up, nurture and pray for our children so 'that in it's season we will reap a harvest.'

He has made everything beautiful in it's time.

Ecclesiastes 3:11

I’m no stranger to periods of disillusionment. My husband and I have had several experiences when we have wondered where God is, and how could this outcome be better than what we had planned? Surely, my motives are good and in line with God’s will so why are we going through this?

Mark Dever (9 marks.org) says ‘Success in ministry primarily means faithfulness’.

You see although at times I have wondered why we have suffered pain, lost friends, lost our home and seemingly been denied ministry (for a time), the Lord was working things out in His perfect timing. It is when we look back in retrospect that we can marvel at God’s amazing work. He does all things well.

Sometimes we can feel as though we are being faithful, acting upon God’s call and obeying His Word but the ‘results’ seem poor. ‘God evaluates His servants on the basis of faithfulness to His call, not results of their ministries’. (Kent & Barbara Hughes). We are called to be faithful in whatever season of life that we are in. Each period of change will bring its own trials and we are to continue to strive towards the goal and shun the devil.

In numbers 20, God directed Moses to speak to a rock to provide water for the Israelites. Moses disobeyed and struck the rock twice with his staff. It proved successful; water gushed from the rock. However, God chastised Moses and forbid him to enter the Promised Land. The means doesn’t justify the end! God was looking for faithful obedience not self reliance.

In 1 Corinthians 3 5-7 we find the essential element required for every season of life – trust in God.
What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe - as the Lord has assigned to each task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been ,aking it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. For we are co-workers in God's service; you are God's field, God's building.

   There it is – God. We are God’s field, He is doing the real work, we are His building. We are called to be faithful and leave the rest to Him.

In John 15 v 16 Jesus calls us to bear fruit, yet ironically the fruit ultimately depends upon Him.

When sharing God’s Word, we’re sowing seeds. If we not become weary of doing good, these seeds will bear fruit. Faith and faithfulness go hand in hand. The condition if you like is that we remain in Him. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15 v 5.

Even when the winter seems long, I am learning that God is faithful. He calls us to be faithful and to trust His accompanying promises. He makes everything beautiful in it’s time.

Defender of the Faith

Defender of the Faith

Hebrews 12:1

 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

Three things we can learn from Queen Elizabeth

Endurance

During her reign she has had many highs and lows, many of them in private and some of them in public. I am sure everyone can recall the public outcry after the death of Diana, the Queen didn’t live up to their expectations and many questioned the validity of the monarchy. However, as Christians we are not judged upon by our individual mistakes or triumphs; we can safely say that no matter what mistakes we make, our God is a forgiving God. He remembers our sins no more. How amazing! I am convinced that the Queen has a personal faith in the Son of God, Jesus, and because of this she ‘runs with endurance’.

Perseverence

As children of The King of Kings we too can run with endurance. Just this weekend at church we were reminded that:

"No one who puts his hand to the plough and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."

Why? Well, when we look back we become, downcast, we remember pain and it causes us to be fearful. If you have ever seen a baby taking his first steps you can see that he is joyful, even excited but after a few bumps he becomes more cautious, more hesitant to leave the strength of a chair or a hand of love. We need to remember that wherever we go, we have the hand of love. God is always with us and He promises not to let go!

Queen Elizabeth could have said, it’s too hard, the people hate me, she could have sat broken over the breakdowns of her children’s marriages and so on but she didn’t. She persevered towards the goal. I am convinced that her faith would have strengthened her during her darkest hours. She knows that the Son reigns as servant and she follows after His great example. We need this kind of perseverance.

Devotion

Queen Elizabeth has repeatedly and consistently tended to her ‘flock’: the nations of the world, her family, her subjects and even her animals.  We too are called to be good stewards of all that God has given to us. Through faithful obedience may we run with endurance, purpose and devotion to all that God has given us.

Diamond Jubilee Prayer

I will leave you with the  following Prayer, written at The Queen's direction by the Chapter of St Paul's Cathedral for Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee, will be used in the Jubilee Thanksgiving Service in St Paul's Cathedral on Tuesday, 5 June.

God of time and eternity, whose Son reigns as servant, not master;
we give you thanks and praise that you have blessed this Nation, the Realms and Territories
with Elizabeth our beloved and glorious Queen.
In this year of Jubilee, grant her your gifts of love and joy and peace
as she continues in faithful obedience to you, her Lord and God and in devoted service to her lands and peoples, and those of the Commonwealth, now and all the days of her life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Let us join with the Queen and become 'Defenders of The Faith' through endurance, perseverence and devotion.

Shine brightly

Julie

Friday Favourite

Anneskidmorecbm.co.uk

Today's post comes from Donna, visit her at : http://tuesdayswithjesus.blogspot.com/

I don't really know why, but today I was remembering the day that I attended the renewing of wedding vows for friends of ours who had been married thirty years. First of all, thirty years is a long, long time to share a life with one person. In light of the state of our present world, dare I say that what we witnessed that day was nothing short of a miracle? God's grace was on glorious display right before our very eyes!

What I want to write about today is the groom. Bride-zilla would have us believe that wedding days and vow renewals are all about her, but I was so taken with that groom. So was the lady sitting behind me. We were anxious to see my friend, and how she would look when she walked down the aisle. But we both agreed that there is nothing like watching the face of a groom when he first lays eyes on his bride walking through the door.

It was like watching a tennis match. Glance at the door. Glance at the groom. Glance at the bride of thirty years coming down the aisle. Glance at the groom again. Oh, we were not disappointed! We saw the sweetest smile come across his face when he caught a glimpse of his wife in the doorway. That smile gave way to eyes that sparkled with just the slightest hint of tears. He whispered something into the pastor's ear. How I wish I knew what he said.

Maybe he said that she looked even more beautiful today than she did all those years ago. Maybe he whispered that he'd do it all again. Maybe he said that he wouldn't have missed her for the world.

Did you know that every time Jesus Christ, your Bridegroom, looks at you, He thinks those same things? He remembers where you were, and exactly what you looked like, the day He found you. He remembers the day that you made your vow to follow Him forever. He thinks that you are infinitely more beautiful today than you were all those years ago. You are a beautiful bride, radiant with His Holy Spirit.

He has no regrets about choosing you. He'd do it all over again in a hot second. For better or worse. For richer or poorer. In sickness and in health. Through laughter and tears. From eternity past, until death, and in eternity beyond. He would choose you over and over again.

Every time He sees you coming to spend time with Him, each time He hears your voice, in each moment of joy when you praise Him, and in each dark night, full of tears, His eyes are fixed on you. You are His beloved Bride, and He grins from ear to ear. His eyes well up and sparkle with tears of joy over you. In His eyes, you are the most beautiful sight He's ever seen.

He turns and whispers to His Father, "I wouldn't have missed her for the world."



  This beautiful post comes from Donna over at Tuesdays with Jesus - thank you Donna.


May the Lord bless you all this weekend.
Shine brightly
Julie