Tag: Jesus

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Somebody else’s problem.

This is an idea I came across when reading a well know Sci fi book.

The basic idea goes that, if you place a note on a known problem of “somebody else’s problem” then the problem becomes invisable.

The note acts like a cloaking device to make the problem appear to disappear. The problem doesn’t actually disappear, but people just stop noticing it, as the problem is now, somebody eles’s.

So, why am I writing about such a nonsense idea?

I do think that we can all be guilty, at times, of placing such a note on problems in our mind.

You know, when you see a problem, but just don’t quite know what to do with it. It’s at this point, where we can put a note on the problem, so that we then don’t even have to look at the problem anymore.
We might be vaguely aware that something is wrong, but we are no longer bothered by the problem as, it is… “Somebody else’s problem.”

Again why am I writing about such an idea?

I sometimes feel that Father would want to say to us….

That problem, which you have placed the note of “somebody else’s problem” on, well, I would like you to take that note off. You see, you could be part of the solution. Look to Me for My guidance and together, let’s make some progress on that problem.

I also feel that Father would, also (possibly) say something very different to those people who try to take on all of the world’s problems, all on their own. I think that he would say to such people….

You are not god!
Yes I see that you have a heart for all these things which are wrong, but you are not Me!
Most of these problems are not yours to deal with. They are Mine.
There are a few where I would like you to be part of the solution, but on all the others, place a little note in your mind about them that states, “Somebody else’s problem.” Of course you can always talk to me about all these things, but when I tell you to place a note on a problem then please follow My prompting and do just that.
Concentrate on the things that I lead you to and leave the rest to Me.

So now we have two very different statements which Father could be saying to us. Which one applies to you?

Both statements could apply to each and every one of us at different times of our lives.
The question is will we listen to Father when He speaks to us?
Will we be part of the solution when He wants us to be, and will we be able to leave things alone that He tells us to leave alone?

Father
Help us to hear Your voice that much more clearly.
Help us to know when to act and when to stay still.
Lead and guide us in all our ways, so that we can keep in step with You.
Amen.

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Are your Big Ends on the way out?

During a discussion I was having at work with a few of my work colleagues they asked me,
“How can you believe in Jesus when so many people don’t? Surely it’s a case of the majority is right and you’ve just got it wrong.”

Well I was a little flummoxed for a bit until a picture came to mind.

There was a man who went to pick his car up from the garage.
When the mechanic handed over the keys he said,
“I’m afraid I have to tell you that I think you have a problem with your big end bearings, and it would be a good idea if you booked your car in to have them replaced.”

At this point a number of mechanics all piped up saying,
“You’re not telling him that, are you? Look, we’ve listened to the engine and it sounds fine to us. There’s no need to have any work done as there’s nothing wrong.”

Well, the customer now has a decision to make.
Does he believe the one mechanic who says that there is work that needs to be done or the number of mechanics who say that the engine is fine?

The thing is, the one mechanic had heard an engine like this before and it was the big end bearings, so he did know what he was talking about, where as the others just hadn’t.
The one mechanic was right, this time.

My friends did see what it was I was saying and stopped laughing at me quite so much at this.
One of them also pointed out to me that if the customer didn’t believe the one mechanic and drove his car out of the garage then he would probably find that his car would break down in time.

This, I thought was an excellent point that I just hadn’t seen, but was valid and parallels can be drawn from it.

You see, if you keep thinking that Jesus isn’t real and choose not to believe in him, just because the majority don’t, then there will come a time when you will have to pay the price for not believing in him.

It will be a hard price to pay.

As a Christian I believe that all who do not accept and believe in Jesus Christ will be sent away from him when they come to the end of their time on this earth. They will not be welcomed into heaven with Jesus but sent away to hell, a place of great sorrow and suffering.

I’m not writing this just to say “YOUR GOING TO HELL” and all the doom and gloom that goes with it but to try and say “Please look into who Jesus is and make an informed decision about who he is.
It could be the most important decision you ever make.”

So, who do you think Jesus is?
Did he even exist?
Was he just another man, or was he who he claimed to be, …. God?

Father,
I ask that you help all those who don’t know you yet, to say yes to You.
Help them to see You clearly, to know that You ARE REAL and that You do care for them, and Love them.
Amen

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Cut away the veil of What If’s

Do you sometimes get caught up in all the what if’s in your life?

You know, when you think, what if this happens and then that could happen which could lead to….

As I was caught in one such moment I thought Father was then saying to me….

Why do you get so caught up in all these What If’s???

They do you no good.

They are like a veil which you have weaved together, with all these what if’s, that covers your eyes and stops you from seeing the What Is!

I want you to take a knife to the veil of what if’s and cut them away.

There might be a few small what if’s that can teach you and keep you from harm, BUT, they should only be a few small single threads, which are cut short so that you can learn a lesson from them.
When the lesson is learnt, then cut them away as well.

What is important is the What Is.

You can’t cut away the what is, but you can blind yourself from what is by looking too intently at the what if’s.

So take that knife and cut away the what if’s, and let me lead you along the what is.

I am with you and will guide you, if you let me.

Father,
Help me to not dwell on the what if’s.
Help me to focus on the what is instead.
Help me to hear Your guidance and to follow Your ways.
Help me to cut away all that doesn’t help me and to trust and follow You that much more closely.
Thank you that You are there to lead and guide me.
Amen

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I’m fragile. Please handle me with care.

This is something I wrote when something I was trying to do just didn’t quite go to plan.
I have been unsure as to whether I should publish this or not, but as you are now reading this, it appears that I have jumped in and given it a go.
So…..

I’m fragile. Please handle me with care.

You see I’ve also got a bit of a problem.
I have a vision of how something could be and would like to see it happen.
I only have so much energy to give to it, and not enough understanding of how to see it through.
Is there any one who can help me?
I’ve tried to do it on my own and had limited success but my failures have cost me, more than I probably know.
You see I’m fragile, please handle me with care.

I’ve recently been told that the one who has the vision then has to be the one to see it through.
This I can see to be true. My biggest problem is I don’t understand what best I ought to do.
Is there any one who can help me to see it through?
I don’t want to see this vision not come true.
It would be good to say that my God shall see me through and provide all my needs. I’ve tried and failed.
I’ve only got so much of me I can put into this.
You see I’m fragile, can you please handle me with care?

I’ve just had a thought.
The church is my family, which God has provided.
Do you think that they may be able to help me?
After all a family is there to help and support each other.
I’ve got a problem here though as I have not helped in the past, when perhaps I could have.
Does this mean that I can’t ask and expect help now that I’m in need?
Or is the church bigger than my own failings.
Can you forgive me as I need to forgive you?

I don’t want for you to do all the work.
In some ways I’ve enjoyed what I have done and would like to carry on.
I just need a little help, to see me through.
Could you be that help I so desperately need?

You see I am fragile, will you please handle me with care?

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I don’t usually feel quite as fragile now as when I wrote this.
However if we are all honest with ourselves, then can we all, at times, echo some of the words written above?

Do our leaders feel, at times, that they are a little bit (or a lot) fragile at times?

Part of the reason of why I am posting this is that, sometimes the people who we think are the most together can sometimes be the ones who are quietly coming apart at the seams with no one noticing.

Those who are in a leadership role (or trying something new) need to appear as if they know what they are doing and where they are going.
After all, who is going to follow someone who appears to be lost?

When anyone tries something new for Father then how will you respond to them?
Will you ignore them thinking, that’s just not for me?
Will you be just too busy to even give it a second thought?
Will you be the encourager to all, and jump in and say yes to all things? (Your a better (or sillier) person than me if you can do this one)

Or will you take the time to ask Father, Do you want me to get behind this?
Is this in your plan Father and what do you want me to do with it?

At the end of the day, if my vision or plan, is something which is wrong, then it’s better for it to not work out.
But if it is from Father, …..Then will you ask Him,
“Do I have a part to play in this, and what is it You want me to do Father?”

Will you be one who follows Fathers promptings?
Will you say yes to Him.

This reminds me of another something I wrote a while back…

When God calls what is the easiest word?

When God calls what is the easiest word to say? No.
No requires no thought, no action and no effort.

When God calls what is the hardest word to say? Yes.
Yes may require thinking, action, effort and hard work.

What are the rewards for Yes and no?

The reward of no is no change.

The reward of yes could mean aggravation, work and effort.
The reward for yes could also be victory, breakthrough and change to a better place.

When God calls to you, do you want to be a no or a YES person?

__________________________________________________

Father,
Help us to look to You for what we should be doing.
Help us to hear You that much more clearly so that we can know that it is You we are hearing.
Then help us to have a heart that does indeed say YES to You.
Help us all, to be all that we can be in You.
Amen.

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The Electric Bike Sermon (Part 2)

If you haven’t already, then please read “The Electric Bike Sermon (Part 1)” before reading this post, it should make more sense if you do.

In Part 1 of these posts I wrote about the benefit of having an electric bicycle.
In part 2, I am looking at the charging of the said electric bicycle.

Having an electric bicycle is great, but if I don’t charge the battery up… well then, the benefit can slowly disappear.
If the battery becomes flat, then I’m left with a heavier bicycle that has none of the benefit of an electric bicycle.
Which can leave me struggling all that much more, (all over again).

As Christian’s we also have this need to keep charged up, or plugged into Father.
If we don’t, we can then effectively end up running on empty.

So, how do we keep fully charged?

Remaining in Father and his will is the first thing which comes to mind. But, just how do we do this.

Prayer, word and fellowship are the three words I’ve heard from the front of church many times.

Prayer, talking to Father (this also includes listening for his words to us).

The word. Reading the bible, God’s word’s to us to help, to instruct and lead us in how we should go.

Fellowship. Meeting with other Christians in order to help and encourage each other in the ways we should go.

To me, these are the first three things we should hopefully all be trying to do.

Listening to praise worship is another favourite of mine.
There is so much good music out there which is easily available (for free) through YouTube.

Bethel Church and Elevation Church music videos are often played on my TV and also on my work PC (through ear phones with the screen minimised) so that I can be effectively charging almost at anytime. There are also many semons available (again through YouTube) which can be listened to in order to build you up.

We can also praise God, or pray, wherever we are and at anytime. We can sing a praise song, or pray, even if it is just in our heads.
It all adds up to that charging effect of coming closer to Father.

We always have the choice available to us to seek His presence in order to find that something extra to see us through the day.
Whatever you need to do to keep charged up, please keep doing it.
It’s always going to be better and easier to deal with life in general if we do so while we are fully charged in God.

Father,
Thank you that you are there for us.
Help us to remain in You.
Help us to always keep looking to You for our guidance and help.
Thank you that You do love us and that we can look to You for all our needs.
Amen.

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The Electric Bike Sermon (Part 1)

I ride an electric bicycle to get to and from work.

It makes the task of cycling that much easier.

I have been called a cheater at times, along with the remark of, if you can’t do it all on your own strength then you shouldn’t do it at all.

These comments do annoy me and also leave me thinking, you just don’t have a clue about this electric bike business.

Who am I cheating?
The hill and the headwind?
I’ll endeavour to cheat them all day long. I’m not in a competition against other cyclists but just someone who wants to get to and from work who is thankful for a bit of help.

On a normal bike, I’ll be completely worn out by the end of the week.
On a normal bike the best I could manage would be 3 days a week with having a rest on 2 days of the week.
But even with the rest days I would still be worn out by the end of the week.

On the electric bicycle, with the assistance it gives me, I can manage to do all 5 days of electric assisted cycling and not be worn out at the end of the week.
I still have to put the effort in.
It’s an electric bicycle I have, and not an electric motorbike.
But come the end of the week (or a strong headwind) I am not looking for the nearest skip to throw the bike into as I can do it, with a little help.

So why am I telling you all this?

I see the electric bicycle as a picture of the Christian life and the standard bicycle as a picture of a non Christian life.

The Christian life means having access to that something extra to help me through life’s troubles.
Just like the electric bicycle gives me that little bit extra, being a Christian means that I can call on Father for his help and assistance when times are harder. (Actually I can call on Father at anytime).

When I do call on Father, then he is there to help.
I might not see it, but he is there.
He is able to provide that little extra so that I’m not looking for the nearest skip to to throw the bike into and sit on the floor in a mess.

To me it’s a no brainer.
Do it all in your own strength, or….. have that little bit of extra help.

For me I am soooo thankful for the help I have had from Father.
When I look at all that I have had to go through I don’t know how I would have done it without his help. Even though at times I might not have seen his help, it was there and got me through.

The Good News is that, the help I received is also available to you!

You can also ask for Fathers help too!
The first step is to acknowledge him and ask him into your life and heart. (Choosing to take the electric bicycle over the standard one.)
The next step is to ask for His help and guidance.
There is a bit more to it than just that, but taking the first two steps is a good start, and if you do, then Father will be there to guide and lead you onward.

Father,
Thank you that You are real and able to to help us.
Thank you that we can come to You for help and guidance.
Thank you that You do accept us where we are, and will help and lead us to a better way.
I ask that you help us all to come to You that much more and help us all to open our hearts and lives to You that that much more so that we can all know You, all that much more!
Amen.

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The Vast Battle

There was a vast battle going on between two armies.
One army was far superior to the other.
Both armies knew what the outcome of the battle would be, but the battle still raged on.

In the end the superior army won the battle.
There was a time of great rejoicing and celebration.
After this time though, the superior army looked around at each other and said, “What do we do now then?”

One person piped up, “That was so good and effective, lets go back to where we started from and do it all over again!”
So they did…???

This time however as they were advancing on the battlefield they had a very real sense of déjà vu. “We’ve been here already, why are we having to go through this again?”

The battle had already been won!
How silly of that army to give away all that ground.
The enemy would happily take any ground that is given to it and then try to hold onto it for as long as possible, always knowing that it would always loose in any battle it faced.

Instead of trying to relive an old battle and past glories the superior army should have gone forward onto the new frontier and taken new ground instead.

Can we be like the superior army at times?

When we pray for things in the spiritual, we have the victory in Christ.
He is Lord of Lords and King of Kings and every knee will bow at his name.

We may struggle to see this though.
Instead we can sometimes go back over old ground doing the same things and saying the same things, when in actual fact we’ve already got the victory and we should now be moving forward onto the new ground, to the new frontiers where Christ is leading us.

Father,
Thank you, that in you we do have the victory.
Help us to see this in a greater way.
Once we have the victory, then help us to see the new ground to take.
Help us to always keep moving forward with you.
To remain in step with you.
Amen.

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Learn to Juggle

There were two men who one day decided that they were going to learn how to juggle.
They both went out and bought their juggling balls and instructions.
The first man never dropped a ball whereas the second man was constantly dropping the balls.

Now, a question for you. Which man do you think was making the most progress in trying to learn to juggle?
The first man who never dropped a ball or the second who was always dropping them?

You might think the answer is obviously the first man as he never dropped the balls.
You’d be wrong in thinking this though.
You see when you try to learn to juggle you can’t help but drop the balls. It’s all part of the learning process.

So, how did the first man never drop a ball then?

He never threw a ball up into the air in the first place.
He was too worried about dropping the ball and looking silly so he chose to not throw the ball up.
He had done all his research and got the equipment he needed but he just wouldn’t throw the ball up.

The second man however was throwing the balls up and was making progress.
Yes, he was always dropping the balls, but he just kept on picking them up and trying again.
One day he will be able to juggle.

When Father asks us to do something for him, and we know it is Father who is asking us, then we can then be like one of the two men above.

We can step out and follow His prompting to us or we can hold back, out of fear of getting it wrong.
We can try and throw the ball in the air, or we can be too concerned about dropping the ball and never throw it up.

Which one do you think Father wants us to be like?
The one who tries and sometimes gets it wrong or the one who never tries, and as such never moves on.

When we do drop the balls, (and I’m sure we all will at some point), is Father looking down at us saying, “You made a right mess of that one then.”

Or would he say, “Well done for trying.
You dropped the ball there but try not to worry about it.
Just pick it up, and try again.
I can see that you’re trying and I am well pleased with your efforts.”

Father,
Help us to follow You as You ask us to do your work.
Help us to KNOW that it is You who is asking us.
Help us to say YES to You.
Help us to not worry about getting it wrong but to just keep looking to You for our help and guidance.
Amen

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Forgiveness is Key

Forgiveness is key is hopefully something which we can all agree on, after all Jesus did say to us (in the Lords prayer) forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.

Sometimes this is not an easy thing to do though, and all the more so if we think that the one who has wronged us, doesn’t deserve our forgiveness.

The world will tell us that we should only forgive those who deserve it, but that is not Fathers way.
Father tells us to forgive unconditionally.

If someone has wronged us badly or is continually hurting us then how are we to follow this command?

It helps to know that forgiving someone is for our own good.

It releases us from the pain, hurt and bitterness which unforgiveness causes us.

I think of the hurt, as a hammer that keeps coming down on a hand that is under it.

If you are able to remove your hand from under the blows of the hammer then you should do so.
It’s much easier to forgive if the hammer blows are taken away

But what if you can’t take your hand out of the way of the hammer Blows? Do we still forgive?
Yes I believe I the answer is.

You see when we forgive, even though the hammer blows keep coming down, we then welcome the gauntleted hand of God to come over our hand and absorb the greater part of the blows.
We may still feel the thumping of the hammer, but the blows can be greatly reduced by inviting Father into the situation by forgiving.

Do we remain in this situation though?

Hopefully the hammer blows will be removed, but what if they are not?

It’s at this point that we need to hear Fathers voice that much more for His direction.

You see you can attack the hammer or you can let the hammer keep raining it’s blows down. Whatever you do, it’s best to keep in step with Father.

If Father tells you to remain still, then do that and wait for the bigger hammer to come along and take out the hammer that is hitting you.
He can do it.

Or Father might tell you to turn your hand around, catch the hammer and crush it. (The source of the hurt I’m talking about, not necessarily a person. 🙂 )
If he leads you to do this then you are doing it in his gauntleted hand with his strength added to the mix.
It may well still be a tough journey but you are not alone if you invite Father into the situation….by forgiving.

I can still remember seeing a program about forgiveness.

There were two guests that I can remember.

The first was a parent of a child who had been very badly treated (tortured and killed) by a very bad abuser.
The parent couldn’t forgive the abuser.
The effect of this could clearly be seen on the parents face. She took the hurt and bitterness with her wherever she went.
The audience (the world) all agreed that she was right, not to forgive, even though the pain she was in was clear to see on her face.

The second, was a parent of a child, who had been killed by a terrorist bomb.
The parent had forgiven the bomber who had killed their child.
The audience could not understand this. They were asking, how can you do that, and stating that the bomber didn’t deserve the parents forgiveness.
You could see by looking at the parents face that he was at peace.
The parent explained that it wasn’t the easiest thing he had done but that he did it any way.

Looking at the two side by side I could see the benefit of forgiving and the consequences of not forgiving.

It is for our own good that we are called to forgive.

By forgiving we can then claim hold of Romans 12:19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.

Sometimes we might need to be honest with Father and tell him that we don’t want to forgive and ask for His help with the issue of our unforgiveness.
If we come to Father and ask for his help then he will be there to help us.

We can can sometimes think that to forgive someone, we need to go and look at the person we need to forgive in the eye and then forgive them to their face.
This is not the form of forgiveness that I am talking about.
The forgiveness that I am talking about is that which is done in our heart in our Father’s presence.
If Father prompts us to go further then we do need to listen to Him, but it is the choice we make in our hearts which is the starting point that counts.

Father,
Thank you that you do care for us and that you do forgive us.
Help us to follow your ways.
Help us to forgive others when they have wronged us.
Help us to bring those things and people who hurt us to you.
Help us to work things through with you so that we can truly say, yes I do forgive unconditionally as you call us to.
Amen

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A Definition of Heaven and Hell

Have you ever had one of those conversations with someone who isn’t a beliver when the topic of heaven and hell comes up?

It kind of goes, I’m going to hell where there’s going to be a great party with lots of fun. You can have heaven to yourself, floating on your clouds and playing your harps.

It generally leaves me thinking, you haven’t got a clue.
Hell is a place of pain and suffering!
There’s not going to be any fun in hell!

To try and challenge this idea I try to offer a better picture of heaven and hell. It’s listed below.

Think of the best time in your life. A time when you thought this is the best. I want to remain here for as long as I can.
Heaven is going to be sooo much better than that.

Now think of a time which was the worst time in your life. A time when you thought this is the worst and you would do anything to get away from that moment.
Hell is going to be sooo much worse than that.

Now which one would you like to be heading to, bearing in mind when you reach your destination you won’t be able to change where you are.

Using this picture, generally, changes the dynamics of the conversation.

For me it’s the only way I can have any real picture of what heaven and hell are really like.

I have made the choice to accept Jesus as Lord and Savour and as such I have a hope that I shall see him in Heaven one day instead of the pain and suffering which will occur in the other place.

If you haven’t already already asked Jesus into your life then you can do so now if you would like to ensure that you will be heading to the better location.

You might say that you don’t believe in either place and as such it just doesn’t matter, but what if you are wrong?
Are you willing to gamble with your eternal resting place? (These are big stakes.)

I would like to challenge all who do not follow Jesus to at least look into these issues so that you can make an informed choice and as such, then play an active role in the decisions you make for your final destination.

Father,
I thank you that you are real.
I thank you that you are my Lord and Saviour,
I am sorry that I do get things wrong at times and I thank you that you do forgive me as I bring my failings to you and try to do better.
Thank you that we can all know You.
Thank you that when we ask you into our lives, then you do say yes to us.
Help us all to say yes to you each and every day.
Amen