God's Hands And Feet

There is an account in the Bible about Peter catching a fish and in its mouth is a gold coin. Jesus told him to pay the tax that was due with it. It was a miracle of provision, but Peter had to do the fishing, and the first fish he caught contained the provision. There is a well known verse 'my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus' Phil 4:19. But read the verses beforehand 15-19 and see this verse in context. God provides through the generosity of others!
I was invited to a special dinner in Uganda and the host was an important person. Because I was the honoured guest I was first in line at the buffet table. I put a small amount of food on my plate because there were many guests behind me and I was not sure that there was enough to feed everyone. Half of the people behind me piled their plates high with food, probably because it was a free meal. But that left the other half in the line with nothing!
Sharing what we have is the important thing. We may have little, but it is the generous giving that God sees; He sees what we have kept for ourselves, and what we have given to others in their need.

God Of Wonders

When the children of Israel were in the wilderness they questioned whether God could provide a table for them to eat from. Water gushed out of the rock, but could He also provide bread? Their expectations could not rise above their past experiences, they had seen the water but not yet the bread. When they thought of God doing something new they limited Him. In every honest prayer there are two sides at work. One is your little, dark, human thoughts of what you need and what you would like God to do. The other is God's great heart with it's infinite and divine purposes of blessing you.
Let us choose to trust the God of miracles! He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think Eph 3:20 Keep your eyes on Him. Keep trusting in Him. Today you are nearer to the answer,so don't give up hoping!

Keep Looking Forward

Jesus said that the gate to life is very narrow Matt 7:13. as Christians we lead limited, yet unlimited lives, with only one choice that brings abundance! The choice is to let go of your own life and follow Jesus in obedience which leads to receiving His life. His life is abundant. Our love for Him and others has to be genuine. Our commitment to Him and His work has to be total. We can't be half hearted and expect to receive anything from God. Make up your mind, don't change it, then you will receive great benefits that far outweigh any losses. God often tests our commitment to Him and His kingdom. He watches to see if we will press forward and see things through. Pass the test! Don't give up! Keep following each day, you will reap! Life will not always be like it is now. Things can suddenly change with Jesus in control. He is preparing you for good works now and in Eternity Eph 2:10.

Give This A Try!

Many years ago the Lord spoke to me about my motives when praying. He said 'Are you willing for others to be more blessed than you'. I had to admit I wanted those that I prayed for to be as blessed as myself. But more prosperous, more healthy, more respected and loved, closer to God than me, well that was a challenge! it was a revelation of my selfishness! It had to change. And with God's help it did.
It is true that it is more blessed to give than to receive. I started blessing others in a new way. I genuinely wanted them to have the best God could give them. I wanted them to 'abound' in blessings! And God opened the way for me to go to Uganda and be a blessing to the poor.
Often my prayer times are just 'blessing' others, all those I can think of. I ask for God to bless their lives, then I bless their lives, then I thank God that they are blessed. This has practical results.
Our family printing business is in a row of three industrial units. A few years ago we needed more space. The third unit was rented by a picture framing business. I started praying for that business to be blessed. Some months later they moved out into other premises more suitable for them. We took over their unit and just knocked a hole through the wall into the new place. No big expense of having to move heavy equipment, no loss of man hours in the move, no inconvenience at all!! The captivity of Job was turned when he prayed for his friends Job 42:10. Job prayed for his friends blessing and because of his unselfishness God changed his own situation .

Use Your Wings!

It takes patience to wait on the Lord. Being still takes practise and perseverance. But as we get into that place of stillness our strength is renewed by God. He gives us His strength Is 40:31. Then we need to flap our 'wings' of faith and trust. We can rise above our circumstances that worry us daily if we put our trust in God who is Almighty, the Everlasting one, who never faints or grows weary. But it is not 'magic', we actually have to DO something, that is put our trust, by choice, in God mercy and goodness towards us. And not in anything else!
Faith is the currency of heaven. We receive everything from God by faith. By believing in His absolute goodness and power toward us. When I go into a shop to purchase something I use money, and expect to get the goods I have paid for. So likewise when I go to God I use my faith in Him, to receive all that I need for that day. Just a day at a time!! not the whole of my life in one lump! Just for each day. It is easier that way because life can get very complicated if I am worrying too far ahead!
So TODAY use your wings of faith and trust and see what God will do for you, and who He will BE to you. Having a close, loving relationship with someone wonderful is what we all need. And that someone is the all loving, all powerful, kind and gentle Jesus. He does care, He does want things to change in your life, He is able to help you, so flap your wings!

God's delays are not 'No'

It has been said that 'patience is a virtue' and no-one I have ever met seems to have been born with patience! I often hear children yelling and screaming to get their own way. When they want something they want it now! And we carry these traits into adulthood. Few people wait until they have saved the money to purchase goods, they use their credit card ( I am not against using plastic cards, if you can pay it off easily). Many get into debt because they can't handle their financial situation. And advertising adds pressure to daily life by giving tempting offers of how to get things 'now'. We get tempted to purchase things we 'want' not just what we 'need'. One of the fruits of the spirit is self-control Gal 5;23 and it takes time for that to develop. It has to be practised!
I often get weary of waiting patiently for God to answer my prayers. It is easy to think 'why pray, He is not answering' when we have not given enough time for the answer to be worked out. The answer is on the way! but there is a delay so we think God is saying 'No' to our request. Sometimes a delay is a test of our patience. Are we willing to wait patiently for the answer? When our patience is stretched it is strengthened. The best things are worth waiting for. And we can wait eagerly expecting an answer in God's time, not our own.
When in Uganda I have visited hospitals where people sit on the grass outside waiting, waiting, waiting, for days hoping to see a doctor. In Africa people wait often doing nothing because there is no other choice. They can't phone the bank to complain, or the phone company, or anyone! Nothing is instant there! let's give God a chance to answer us. He'll give us the best because He is a loving Father. Let's stop complaining and be thankful!

Living One Day At A Time

Yesterday is over and gone! Tomorrow is not yet here! So the only option is to live in each day, and each moment trusting God that He is sufficient to hold today in His hand, cover yesterday in His love, and direct my footsteps towards tomorrow. This is why I painted the picture 'Be Still'. I wanted to sit under the shadow of His wings, gaze into the pool of Life, and find some beauty there. Around me are tall trees of righteousness; solid rooted beings who have their stature in God and watch over my progress as a Christian. I hope that you can see that in this painting.