Grains of Sand

Pixabay A pilgrim's journey through an increasingly hostile world is not easy. All the encouragement and instruction given by Peter to the believers scattered throughout Asia and Palestine was valuable. But without a doubt there were moments of fear and worry that would have plagued the followers of Jesus even though they had their eyes fixed on home, on the incorruptible treasure waiting for them. The determination to stand for their faith would meet opposition again and again. It might result in more loss than that which they had already suffered. Concern would turn to worry, and worry turn to fear. So Peter writes these words in 1 Peter 5:7,  "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."  Anxiety is an overwhelming consumer of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual resources. I would like to say that it is like a vacuum cleaner sucking up everything around it, except that my vacuum cleaners are not nearly as efficient as all that! But you ge...

Pixabay At any given time, someone needs this invitation from Scripture: “ Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest ” (Matthew 11:28). It’s not that the Lord is telling us to happily assign ourselves to the “couch of potato” because what follows after this initial invitation belies that. We have to keep going. We can’t renounce the world and all the events and circumstances and people that seem so often to add brick and timber to our already heavy loads. But we need to learn not to assume responsibility for what is not ours. What do I do about this? How am I going to get that done? Where does this need to go? When can I fit this in? How will I accomplish that? What will I do if…? The burden we are asked to carry is often not the one we are presently trying to carry. He tells us “ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light ” (vss. 29, 3...

Pixabay If I could have, I would have shoved my feet through the floor of the bus and used my own legs to push it along. If mind ever had power over matter, mine should have forced the driver’s foot to press down harder on the accelerator. The night flashed by, faint outlines of trees interrupted by the occasional house dimly lit by a yard light or edged with Christmas bulbs. The road stretched before me. I willed it to end where I needed it to end, but perversely it refused, one curve morphing into yet another length of highway flecked with swirling snow. The demon of doubt whispered: She’s going to die before I get there . A desperate faith countered: Please don’t let her go before I arrive . Does a minute always take so long? How is it that an hour seems like an eternity? Eight hours on a bus crawling through the night. No flights available this close to Christmas. No trains leaving that would get me there any faster. Faster?   My demon doub...

Abby at peace. Change. It's never easy to deal with. Whether those changes are minor or major, they bring with them certain consequences. Some of us deal with those consequences without too much trouble. Others struggle a little more. But we all struggle. When Abby and Lou Lou came to Canada from Venezuela, I was told that, once released from their carriers, they would likely find some place to hide and stay hidden for up to two weeks. When we released them, they ran to the nearest closet. That was expected. But, much to everyone's surprise, within 45 minutes they were out making themselves at home as though they had always lived in their new quarters. The change caused some stress, but not much. Jesus knew that His disciples were about to face a huge change in their lives. In fact, there would not simply be one change, but several, to be confronted. He was heading to the cross and that would be traumatic for them. After all, they had walked with Him for three years. An...

Pixabay It's long since gone the way of all things, but the plaque hung on a wall in my parents' home for many years. My mother was a worrier and I had bought it for her as a reminder, particularly while I was overseas, that God was looking after business and she didn't have to fret. " ...in quietness and trust is your strength " (Isaiah 30:15) writes the prophet. In its context, the verse is part of a broader message. It is, in fact, a call to return to the Lord. Israel struggled continually with putting her confidence in places and in people other than her God. She often trusted foreign kings and their armies to rescue her from other kings and their armies. Idol worship was always an issue—Israel took on the belief systems of her pagan neighbours, sometimes not replacing Yahweh, but adding other gods "in addition to...." Israel became like her pagan neighbours rather than being distinct from them as God had commanded her. Eventually this spirit...

Google Images “ Because the Lord kept vigil ” (Exodus 12:42). Oh, I love these five words! The place is Egypt on the night of the 10th plague, on the night the Lord struck down the firstborn in every Egyptian household, on the night the Israelites were finally free to leave after more than 400 years under Pharaoh’s power. It was the night of the first “Passover.” The very name tells the story. The Israelites were instructed to pack their bags. They were give specific details as to how to prepare for their last meal in Egypt. Most important of all, they were told to brush the blood of the lamb designated for that meal on the doorposts of their homes. By this sign the angel of death would know not to touch the firstborn of that home. That child was protected by the blood of the lamb. The analogy is obvious. As that ancient household was protected by the blood, so is anyone who accepts Christ as his or her Saviour protected by the blood that He shed on the cross. The blood of Jesus Ch...

A simple word for today....

“ Though the fig tree   does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are sheep on the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior ” –Habakkuk 3:17, 18, NIV. The community of Slave Lake in northern Alberta has virtually disappeared off the map. A brush fire, pushed by strong winds, roared through the town of 7,000, and wiped out most of the major buildings and many homes. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/prairies/slave-lake-reeling-as-alberta-wildfires-cause-devastating-destruction/article2023343/ As I read the verses for this morning I wondered how many residents of that community are rejoicing in the Lord. I pray constantly for a writer friend, Lisa Mikitarian, and her husband, Sam, as they search for their daughter, Katalina, who went missing last week. http://www.nvdaily.com/news/2011/05/police-aiding-in-familys-search-for-m...

It's time for Monday Manna once again, hosted by our wonderful Joanne at An Open Book . The passage for Monday Manna is Philippians 4:4-9. Joanne is celebrating her birthday today. As I read her post on this verse: " Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put into practice ," I echoed her thoughts. How wonderful it would be to be able to tell others, as Paul did, to imitate me because in doing so they will be imitating Christ. I'm still working on that, and probably will be for the rest of my life. What jumps out at me today is the list in verse 8. Paul writes: " Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. " These verses are preceded by the instructions to not be anxious about anything but turn all those anxious thoughts over to God and enjoy his peace by doing so. I rememb...

Peace is as short-lived as the next headline, as longstanding as pleasant circumstances prevail in our lives. It is as fragile as the finest crystal, and as fleeting as a wisp of smoke. In spite of our present reality Jesus says: " Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid " —John 14:27. Jesus knew that within hours the world His disciples had grown comfortable in would be shattered. Soldiers would come and rip their Rabbi from their midst. The crowds, once friendly, would turn on their Master and demand His death, They would be looked at the Lord's followers with suspicion and accusation. The disciples' hope would be beaten, ridiculed, and nailed to a cross. How could Jesus tell them not to be troubled, not to be afraid? A peace that rises above circumstances and is not diminished by events bigger than ourselves is rooted in a God who never changes when everything else...

I'm adding my little bit to Word Filled Wednesday, hosted by AmyDeanne at http://the160acrewoods.com/ Check it out. My verse is a simple one: " Do not be anxious about anything… " —Philippians 4:6, 7 (NIV). Lou has the right idea. I'm not sure Lou prays, but if the rest of the verse doesn't apply to her, it certainly does to me. " …but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus ."

Last night I spoke on the phone with a friend. She is one of several people I know here in Venezuela who are seriously depressed. The situation in the country in not encouraging, and there is plenty to get depressed about. I prayed that God would give me a word of encouragement for her, and for others. And, ever faithful, He sent this along this morning: " The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him " —Nahum 1:7. It's easy to become overwhelmed by circumstances and not so easy to give those circumstances to God and leave them for Him to work out according to His will. Our tendency is to snatch our concerns out of His hand and continue to worry over them. These are moments when Nahum's words need to become like a mantra, repeated over and over until their truth replaces the anxiety of our souls. I pray that will be true for my friend, and for you, today.