Some thoughts!

So you moved into this house when you first got married - your children were born here and grew up in this house - they are married now and have moved to their own homes - have their own families - it's just the two of you again. And you sit and ponder all the good times - so much love and laughter have happened here over the years - and you thank God for them all.
You hear the postman come and stop out front - so you wander out to the box to get the mail - and as you step out of the front door you look around your street - of the 7 houses in your little court - two of them still have the people who were there when you moved in all those years ago - the one across the road moved in about the same time as you - the other two across the way have had many occupants over the years - and next door is up for sale again [more new neighbours]! You have shared a lot together - your kids grew up together - went to school together - and now younger families have moved into your court - you have become adoptive grand parents - it's so good to see the generations come and go - to watch them grow - to be part of their families - and you thank God for them all.
The day comes - it is your turn to leave the court - you can no longer take care of such a big place - it is time to move to a smaller place - you have a garage sale to get rid of the excess - and the day comes to move - you stop at the opening to the court and look back almost overwhelmed with sadness - then God does a beautiful thing - He reminds you of the day you arrived in the court - you were the only believer - you made friends with the neighbours - they gradually became believers too - God says "What I have done in this court over the years I can do again in your new place - just trust Me!" The sadness departs - you feel a tinge of excitement growing - who has God got waiting for you in this new place to bring into His kingdom - you go on your way praising God for the opportunities to come - another street to evangelise! Thank you Jesus!

Service to others

An unknown author captured eloquently the way in which we so religiously fall short of Christ’s demand of service for others:

I was hungry and you formed a humanities club and discussed my hunger.
I was imprisoned and you crept off quietly to your chapel and prayed for my release.
I was naked and in your mind you debated the morality of my appearance.
I was sick and you knelt and thanked God for your health.
I was homeless and you preached to me of the spiritual shelter of the love of God.
I was lonely and you left me alone to pray for me.
You seem so holy, so close to God.
But I’m still very hungry and lonely and cold.

We must hear again the words of James: “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only” (James 1:22).

A bar of iron!

F. B. Meyer explained it this way: “A bar of iron worth $2.50, when wrought into horseshoes is worth $5. If made into needles it is worth $175. If into penknife blades it is worth $1,625. If made into springs for watches it is worth $125,000. What a ‘trial by fire’ that bar must undergo to be worth this! But the more it is manipulated, and the more it is hammered and passed through the heat, beaten, pounded, and polished, the greater its value.”

Christian, are you wondering about the trials through which you are passing? With impatient heart are you saying, “How long, O Lord?” The heat of the flame and the blows of the hammer are necessary if you are to be more than an unpolished, rough bar of iron. God’s all-wise plan, though it calls for the fire, produces the valuable watch spring of maturity. His very best for your life has behind it His perfect timing.

Loving it!

Life is rather hectic - school has started - everything is starting again - lots of new people to meet - lots of new names to remember - lots of different personalities as well.
Although there is no routine at the moment - although there is no familiarity - I feel so at home - so like I belong - its really hard to explain - but I just know this is where God wants me to be - constantly my heart is saying 'perfect' - I know it isn't - there have been lots of hiccups - but still it is 'perfect'.
God is giving me a picture of how it can be - fuzzy at the moment [the picture that is] - but each moment it is getting clearer - or at least parts of it are - it is almost like where my attention is God is shining a light for me to see how this part can be - and I am remembering each bit and waiting to see it all connected together.
The other thing God is constantly reminding me is time - it will take time - it won't happen over night - and even though I say that - He then surprises me with some 'overnighters' so to speak.
What an amazing God we serve!

Almost not quite

I was given a cornet to take home about a week ago - it wasn't the easiest to blow - so as you would - you start to check things out - well - the 2nd valve was in the 3rd place and 3rd valve was in the 2nd.
Now these 2 valves are almost identical - in fact it is almost impossible to tell them apart - probably why the maker put 2 on the 2nd valve & 3 on the 3rd valve - so you wouldn't get them confused.
Now I don't know how long they have been that way - but when I reversed them [or should I say put them where they should be] they didn't particular like it - oh the cornet was a lot easier to blow - but the valves didn't move as freely as they should - even though I cleaned them thoroughly and their casing - they were so used to the other way - the right way was quite foreign to them and they protested by either sticking or being very sluggish - and although I heaped lots of loving care [and valve oil] its is going to take some time to get them in the right groove again.
As you can imagine this was quite frustrating - I expected better from this cornet - it was constantly letting me down - sometimes at quite crucial moments.
In my frustration God spoke to me - how often this is so with new christians - they have been living in the wrong place [satan's control] they come to Jesus and he cleanses them - fixes them up - and puts them where they belong [His Kingdom] - but life doesn't run smoothly for them - its not what they are used to - sometimes they can be a bit sluggish - or even get stuck - and we get quite frustrated when they don't live up to the standard and be all that they were created to be - but it will take time - nurture - excouragement - and yes just like my cornet they will function as God intended.