Listening to God

The other day we looked at some helpful verses from Isaiah and what God says about the way to be saved, Isaiah 30:11. The key here is, like Israel, we need to be willing. They wanted to do their own thing, instead of listening to God, so He let them. It shows us the danger of switching off from God, because when we do that things don’t work out as we plan. Meanwhile God wanted and longed to be gracious, Isaiah 30:18. So often we too shut God out when He longs to be gracious to us. Yet when His … Continue reading →

Hard Truths

Too often in society and even in many of today’s churches, we don’t hear all that much about judgment. It’s something people don’t want to think about much less hear about. But the bible is very clear that though God is a God of love and grace, He is also a god of judgment. We cannot ignore that fact. We can try, but it won’t change the facts. Isaiah is a book that has a lot about God’s judgment. Some of it is judgment of other nations. Some concerns judgment of His own people. Isaiah 30 is a passage that … Continue reading →

Can You Forgive?

Forgiveness, it’s a word we often hear in church. In fact, we hear about forgiveness every time we say the Lord’s Prayer. But how much notice do we take of it? Or do we skim over that bit? Forgiveness sound good when we’re on the receiving end of it from God or from others but its not always so easy when we’re on the other end. It’s not always easy to do. Our minister gave a great talk last week and the theme was forgiveness. It is something that is sadly needed in our marriages, in our relationships with family … Continue reading →

All About Attitude

So much depends on our attitude towards the people we meet and the circumstances in our lives, circumstances often over which we have no control. In Philippians 1 Paul has a lot to teach us about attitude. Though he was in prison at the time of writing this letter to the Philippians and might have bemoaned his fate, he did not. Instead he saw that it would turn out for his deliverance. He could have sat on his behind and did nothing while in prison. Instead he chose to write and encourage those in the church with his words of … Continue reading →

Learning from the Bible

In the letter to the Philippians, Paul and Timothy labeled themselves as servants of Christ? Is this the way we would describe ourselves? Their message is to the Philippians but it applies equality as much to us Christians today. Paul thanked God for the church at Philippi and the company of believers, Philippians 1:3. How long since we remembered to thank God for our church and the people in it? Do we take time to thank God for those people who are special to us? Are we, like Paul and Timothy and the Philippians, participating in the spread of the … Continue reading →

Watch Your Words

Whether we like it or not, our words define us. They reveal out thoughts and heart attitudes. Jesus knew this. See Matthew 12:34-37 and Mark 7:15-23.You know it too. Listen to someone you know talk. It is easy to pick up clues about the type of person they are from the words they say and the tone of voice in which it is said. Impatience stubbornness, anger, impatience, jealousy will all show up in a person’s words or tone. So will love, gentleness, generosity, patience. Before you jump in and add your thoughts to a conversation, can I suggest you … Continue reading →

Visiting Church

Visiting another church can be a fun and interesting time or it can turn into a nightmare. Last Sunday Mick and I were going to visit our son and his family in Sydney, so we wanted a church that was on the way. Our first step was finding one that was evangelical and at a convenient time. But it’s always a bit of a risk going to another church. Some churches are just not good at welcoming strangers. We know we‘ve encountered it before. Friendliness is something many people have commented on in regard to our church, so it’s something … Continue reading →

The Biggest Problem with Church

Sometimes the biggest problem with church is people. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I don’t like people, I do. But I’ve come across a few incidents recently where people, and I’m talking Christian people who are part of the church, have been downright rude and unfeeling towards others. One that struck me particularly and I have see this a lot is where two or more people are engaged in a conversation and another person comes up and immediately cuts into the conversation and starts to talk as though what they have it say is more important. More often … Continue reading →

God’s Warnings

Sometimes as we read the bible or as we hear about people and the choices they make, we can be wonder. Often times it happens that God has given strict instructions about something and the person has ignored it. Eve and Adam in the Garden of Eden is one example that had serious consequences. Solomon was another. How can they be so stupid to ignore God’s warnings like that? I thought that this week, when I was reading about Samson in Judges 15, 16. God had provided for and given victory to Samson when the Philistines sought to do him … Continue reading →

The Unpaid Worker

The attitude of some churches concerns me. Sometimes it comes from the pastor or minister in charge and sometimes it can come from the congregation. Years ago friends of ours, where the husband was assistant minister, were criticized severely because his wife wanted to keep working and therefore didn’t have time to do the things the church expected her to do, things like running the ladies’ bible study. Their main objection seemed to be ‘but that’s what the assistant minister or minster’s wife has always done.’ That is without doubt the weakest reason to ever keep doing it. Just because … Continue reading →