Thought for the Day
ROAD MAP OR COMPASS?
Continuing our theme of "Life is a journey, travel it well" do you think of your journey as being directed by a road map or by a compass?
If we navigate by compass rather than by a road map, we can expect the unexpected not knowing all the twists and turns that lay ahead. But we can do so with the certainty that if we set our bearings on God, He will guide and steer us to find that place of promise in Him.
"Keep your eyes on Jesus" must surely be the only way to navigate our journey, and be certain of a safe arrival at out journey’s end.
19 February 2012
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DO YOU KNOW YOUR JOURNEY’S END?
It’s all very well being sure of travelling life’s journey well, as we have been thinking, but are you equally sure of your journey’s end?
That assurance is one of the great gifts of our walk with Jesus! As the line from the old hymn has it, “He knows the way He taketh and I will walk with HIM.”
It is said of the great Christian writer Oswald Chambers in his obituary (author of the classic “My Utmost For His Highest”) that “he was last seen heading for the top” in true mountaineering fashion.
If you want a Biblical writer’s view of his life’s journey end why not look up Philippians 3/12-14.
12 February 2012
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TRAVEL THE JOURNEY WELL!
Last year American Airlines ran an advertising campaign with the slogan "Life is a journey, travel it well".
It is interesting to note that the first Christians were identified as those who were "in the Way" (Acts 9/2) - perhaps linking themselves with Jesus who said "I AM the Way...".
We have been reflecting on the ideas of this Christian journey, where Jesus walks WITH us, walks AHEAD of us, and is in fact all AROUND us, but it raises the challenge of HOW we, individually and personally, do the travelling.
So allow me to add two important words to the slogan above: "Life is a journey, travel it well - WITH JESUS". That, surely, is the secret of a life lived in company with Jesus!
5 February 2012
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"WHERE IS HE NOW?...HE IS EVERYWHERE"!
As we explore together the theme of the Lord's constant presence with us through every experience of life, there is no better Scripture to read than Psalm 139!
In it David explores not only the wonder of God's intimate knowledge of us and everything we do and say, but also his amazement at the realisation that the whole of creation is full of the presence of God. He expresses it in terms like "to the heavens" and "in the depths" or "the wings of the dawn" and "the far side of the sea" - nowhere is void of the presence, the love and the power of God.
What an assurance for us, the children of this amazing loving Heavenly Father of ours, to know that "there isn't anywhere where He isn't"!!
29 January 2012
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"WHERE IS HE NOW?"
We have talked about Jesus walking WITH us on our life's journey, and also that He goes AHEAD of us - so that we can have the assurance that He has already been in the circumstances of our lives before they reach us: how wonderful!But if you take a moment to look at 2 Kings 6/8-17 (one of the great Old Testament stories!) you will discover that He is not only with us and ahead of us, but He is also AROUND us, surrounding us with His love and care. If that is really true, as I truly believe it is, then it means that nothing can touch us that hasn't been "filtered" by His amazing love - thank you Lord!
22 January 2012
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"HE GOES AHEAD TOO!" 15 January 2012
We said last week that we have the assurance that Jesus walks with us every step of the way during our life's journey, and that's great!But there is (if it were possible) an even greater truth - that he goes ahead of us as well. The message of the angel on that amazing Easter morning was not just "Don't be afraid - He is risen". Nor was it that Jesus walked the Emmaus Road and transformed the lives of two depressed disciples. It was in that other message, "He is GOING AHEAD of you in Galilee".
In a world where we don't even know what is going to happen from one minute to the next, how wonderful that we have One who walks AHEAD of us into every situation we are going to face and assures us of His love!
15 January 2012
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"FOR THIS....I HAVE JESUS..."
What will 2012 hold for you do you think? You might well respond "What a question to ask: I've no idea!" - and you would be right: we have no idea but HE has. The Bible assures us that our loving heavenly Father "knows the end from the beginning" so what a relief that is!But when unexpected things happen to us what we can say is "For this..I have Jesus". The One who walked this earth, gone through its trials and sorrows and has promised to walk life's journey with us - what more could we ask?! Why not look at the "Songs of Fellowship" hymn book number 721 to read the hymn from which these words come - and take great comfort in knowing WHOM you can trust.
8 January 2012
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As yet another New Year opens before us we could be excused for wondering what it holds....
It was many years ago now that our then Sovereign used Louise Haskins' poem "GOD KNOWS" as part of his broadcast to the nation -
"And I said to the man that stood at the gate of the year 'Give me a light, that I might tread safely into the unknown'. And he replies, 'Go out into the darkness and put your hand in the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way".
Why not consciously put YOUR hand into the hand of God to show Him that you are prepared to trust Him for whatever 2012 may hold.
1 January 2012