A Heart Untroubled

Today I was thinking about the overall intelligence level of humanity, and you gotta admit that we can be kind of dumb! Of course there are varying degrees of stupid, but what I mean is that we are just not as smart as we like to think. Really think about how many times you have found yourself in the same position over and over again.  We just don't seem to learn. As I was reading this verse, I thought of how true that is regarding the fact that we seem to believe that God doesn't know who we are. We think somehow we have fooled him, and that can be the only reason why he would possibly have anything to do with us.  We think him shocked when we make a mess of things or disappointed when the mask comes off and we reveal who we are.  The truth is God knows EXACTLY who you are and what you're like!  He made you! This passage in Hebrews says that there's nothing hidden from God.  While some might cringe at that statement, I think it is actually one of grea...

Tomorrow I am speaking at St John's Church, and unlike other places I preach, they run from a liturgy and give me the scripture passage to preach on, rather than a theme or leaving the choice to me. This time my theme is a passage from Jeremiah.  It's not the one on the picture, but as I was preparing for the service, I read through Jeremiah, and it's really quite discouraging for about the first 29 chapters (There are some odd snippets of hope, but not a lot). Two things caught my attention. First, is the constant reference to the idolatry of the people.  In this day and age, we probably think about idolatry as bowing down to funny statues, but it's really about putting something in the place of, or above God.   In today's society, we still have idols, they just look a little different; iPhones, Laptops, TVs, Hobbies to name but a few.     In Jeremiah's day,  the problem was that God was there, but they turned to something else instead...

As the weather changed this week (and then changed back for the weekend, yay)  I was thinking about the fact that for everything there is as a season, and what's really important is we know what season we are in and act accordingly.    For example, when we were living in Canada, it got down to -40 where we were. On one occasion it was about -20C. We worked in a row of buildings and kind of diagonally opposite us was a fast food place.  I wanted to pop out to the fast food place and grab some chips and a hot chocolate.   It was literally 100 yards across the car park. I didn't bother to grab my coat or gloves. When I got back my face and hands were so cold they were burning.  It was stupid, but in that instance, no real harm done, but I learned my lesson.  When it's cold, act accordingly!! The same is true in life.  We need to know which seasons we are in.   In the book of Ecclesiastes we see in chapter 3 that for everything...

As I was reading the bible this week, this verse from  Psalms 94:19  ministered to me.  It say "In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul." (KJV) Some other versions read 'anxiety' instead of 'thoughts' as the word use there actually means 'disquieting thoughts'. Have you ever had days when your thoughts all seem troubling?  Maybe not a big serious problems, but all the little stuff that gets you down.  I have had days when everything seems to be stressy or difficult, and my thoughts just go over and over these things.  The good news is that we don't have to live in that place, The Psalmist says that the Lord's comfort brought him joy.  To me that's encouraging. The Lord gave consolation (comfort) in the first place, but that comfort also brought with it joy.  God's comfort isn't simply a 'there, there, there' moment.  It brings real relief for our situations, regardless of what is...

Habakkuk 3:17-19 (NLT) Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields,  and the cattle barns are empty,  yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights. Some days when we look at where we are we can wonder what on earth is going on.  Some days we can get so focussed on yourself and your situation that we selfishly forget the goodness of God. I like this passage from Habakkuk.  It takes an honest look at the circumstances:  nothing is going right, there's not going to be a harvest, there's no cattle it's all wrong. The future looks rough! BUT then Habakkuk says YET .... YET is defined as meaning 'nevertheless or in spite of'.  Habakkuk summarized the situation BUT then...

In Genesis 2, we find Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, and the bible says that they were both naked and they were not ashamed.    That word ‘ashamed’ also implies disappointment.   Adam and Eve had no expectations: of each other, of God, or of anyone else!   They were completely free to be themselves and walk and talk with God without disappointment or shame. These days though, we often feel disappointment.     Disappointment is the sadness or displeasure caused by the non-fulfilment of your hopes, dreams or expectations. Today we have expectations that we set on ourselves, on God and on others, and we are constantly disappointed when things don’t happen the way we think they should. How do we deal with disappointment?    We have to change our expectations.    Firstly, we have to liberate others and ourselves from our perceptions and standards.   The only person we can put expectations on is God. We nee...

Today we had our first Ladies Conference at Hill Park Baptist Church in Fareham.  I got to minister with my good friends Leigh & Hazel and we had an amazing time.  As I have been preparing for the conference and thinking about what I wanted to share, I was thinking about the popular concept of ME Time..   I totally get the idea, that we all need to take time out to be alone, do things that refresh and revitalize us, but the longer I live, the more I realize that what I really need is JESUS & ME Time!  The thing that fills me most completely and sets me up ready for the day and activity ahead is spending time with Jesus. Just him and me. My favourite Psalm is 91. I love it!   I've just got the first 4 verses here but the whole chapter is great, but the first bit says: When you sit enthroned under the shadow of Shaddai,  you are hidden in the strength of God Most High.  He’s the hope that holds me and the Stronghold to shelter...