Waiting?

Though the vision is slow in coming to pass, wait for it....  Habakkuk 2:3 

In our retirement village there is a wonderful 90 year old who is tall and straight.  She walks quickly, always using her walking frame for safety. I saw her out and about the other day with coordinating orange coloured cardigan and shoes. Lovely!  I enjoy our little interactions because she is so bright.  She lost her twin sister in the last year and she has said to me on more than one occasion, "I don't know why I'm still here."  I have told her each time, "Nathalie, it's because you still have lots of joy to spread around!"  She is a blessing to be around.  I spent a little time in her home to ask her permission to write about her.  All we did was laugh.  She told me that health wise she has nothing wrong with her.  I told it's because of all the laughter 'medicine' she takes all the time. (Proverbs 17:22)

This reminds me of another old man called Simeon who was waiting to die at the time of Jesus' birth.   In his waiting he continued to be patient and faithful in his devotion to God.  He was waiting for "the consolation of Israel", the Messiah. It had been revealed to him by God that he would not die until he saw the Messiah.  One day, the Spirit of the Lord led Simeon to the temple as Jesus was being presented as the law required, and Simeon recognised his Messiah.  Taking him in his arms he prayed a beautiful prophetic prayer, "Lord now let your servant depart in peace as you promised for my eyes have seen the salvation you promised for all people....." Luke 2:29-32.  This is the only time we hear of this man as far as I know.  His purpose in life had been to make that prophetic announcement of the Messiah in the temple.  His work was done.

For us, "it ain't over till it's over".  God has appointed us for certain tasks and for some they may be later in life when we think we're 'done'.  If you are waiting on the fulfilment of what you have felt God wanted to do through you and it still hasn't happened, keep waiting, in hope, as Simeon did.  Abraham waited, Noah waited, the prophets waited, along with many others.

We realise as we meditate on our eternal God that time is nothing to Him.  He lives in eternity where there is no time and he is infinitely patient in bringing about His purposes because His timing is perfect....always.  Continue to hope in Him, and be faithful in your devotion to God as Simeon was, staying available each day for His purposes.

Prayer:  Eternal Father, faithful and true to your promises, help me to wait patiently and be ready for any task that you have planned for me.  I yield to your timing Lord.  Amen

What Are You Looking At?

...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.  Hebrews 12:2

Isn't it great when we have friends who are honest enough to call out for prayer.  I know I don't always do it when I should, but my thanks to this dear trooper who is humble enough to do so,   because she is the reason the following thoughts have come to me afresh.

As I prayed for my friend I asked the Lord to give me a verse or some words for her and immediately this verse came to my mind..... fix your eyes upon Jesus.  I also thought about Isaiah 40 which speaks about waiting or trusting in the Lord which will bring new strength to us.  Later in my reading I was led to Psalm 42 which tells the story of a very discouraged and oppressed believer bemoaning his plight and losing his focus.  "Watch this", as Dr Charles Stanley says.....

In Psalm 42 9 the psalmist cries out to God, "Why have you forgotten me? Why must I wander around in grief oppressed by my enemies who scoff at me saying 'where is this God of yours?' Why am I discouraged, why is my heart so sad?"  His eyes were totally on his plight THEN he made a choice.  Verse 11 - "I will put my hope in God!..."  He chose to take his focus off his problems and look at God.  Great choice!

Remember good old Peter calling to Jesus (who came to them in the night walking on the water).  He saw Him but wasn't sure it was Jesus so he said "If it's really you Lord tell me to come to you walking on the water (Matthew 14:28).  Jesus did just what he asked so Peter stepped out of the boat and started walking towards Jesus....no doubt looking at him as he did so.  Only trouble is he lost his focus and with that he lost his nerve because he looked at what he was actually doing, walking on water, and he started to sink.  Only as he reached out for Jesus hand was he kept from going under.

What are you looking at today?  What is your focus?  What is getting your attention?  Is it your problems, circumstances, pain, need.  If it is I challenge you to look to Jesus, make him your focus.  Get into his word with is alive with promise and hope.  Psalm 34:5 struck me many years ago during a time of trial.  In the KJV it says, "They who looked unto him were lightened, and their faces were not ashamed. " The NLT translates it "Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy."

Do you need to change what you are looking at today?

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, forgive me for taking my eyes off you and allowing my circumstances

Old & New

......The old has gone, the new has come.  2 Corinthians 5:17

I was on the circuit at my Curves gym last week and these words were written on our notice board.  It was too good not to share.  Six things to leave behind as we walk into our new year.  Perhaps one or more of these might strike a chord with you.

The scripture that I have truncated above is actually speaking about our new life in Christ; that when we come to Christ we become a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come.  It doesn't mean that all the unhelpful, unhealthy and unholy habits in our life are necessarily gone but they are covered under the atoning blood of Christ - hidden, as it were, from God's judgment.  We are, however, a work in process, and we will continue to be until we move to heaven.

I can look back and have regrets over things that I could have done better.  Does that help me to fix them?  No!  It just makes me feel guilty. I can look back and see disappointments but carrying them into the new year won't take away the disappointment, it may even add anger and bitterness to the mix.  Limiting beliefs?  I realised the other day that I had begun to feel that my spiritually productive life was practically over now that I am heading towards 70!  I had to repent and again commit myself to God's purposes for the future.  I may have a good few years ahead yet so I'd better stay in tune and at the ready for what this year may bring in His service.

Yes, it's time to put these negative things behind us as we walk into a brand new year.  The past has passed, your future is there to be grasped with both hands.  Every day is a new day with new mercies (Lamentations 3:23).  When I vacuum my house I throw the dust and dirt away, I don't keep it to examine it and perhaps respread it so I can clean it up again.  That sounds so ridiculous but that's what some of us do, year after year after year.  Come on friend, get rid of your rubbish at the foot of the cross and walk into 2016 with the joy of knowing that the past is in the past.  Leave it there! Ask Holy Spirit to help you leave it behind and help you to do better in the future, then stop your struggling and striving and get into abiding in the Vine (John 15) and watch new fruit appear.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father thank you for a brand new year, a reminder that your mercy is actually new EVERY morning, not just in the new year.  Help me Holy Spirit to leave the rubbish of failure from each day with you and walk into each new day with you this year knowing that I have a clean sheet.  Thank you so much.  Amen

Fire

....Just think of how a small flame can set a huge forest ablaze.  James 3:5b TPT

Watching a huge fire rip through a seaside suburb in Victoria, Australia on TV recently. I was reminded of the great power of fire.  It can be stopped only with great skill of the firefighters or a huge deluge of rain.  Its power is amazing and yet it starts with just a spark.  

That is how the apostle James describes the power of the tongue.  In The Passion Translation it reads this way; "And so the tongue is a small part of the body yet it carries great power. Just think of how a small flame can set a huge forest ablaze.  And the tongue is a fire!  It can be compared to the sum total of wickedness and is the most dangerous part of our human body.......It releases a fire that can burn through the course of human existence."  Wow!  Strong and sobering words.

When I was a child (and I am sure I have written this before!), my mother used to encourage me with these words when kids were mean to me, "Sticks and stones will break my bones but names will never hurt me."  How good that sounds but how untrue it is.  Words are one of the most destructive weapons there are.  Many of us still suffer from harsh or mean words that were spoken over us during our lives and many of us probably wish we could take back words that we have spoken harshly to others.  We can't do that but we can repent and ask forgiveness from God and whoever we hurt.

If you read on a few verses in James it has more to say about the tongue, but the thing that struck me was "It releases a fire that can burn through the course of human existence."  Many people go to their graves in sadness and degradation because of words that have told them they are no good, they'll never make it, they are stupid, fat or dumb.  

As I meditated on this topic I remembered that God took hold of the tongues of his disciples when he released the Holy Spirit into the world at Pentecost.  Not only that, but tongues of fire appeared above each of them.  (Think about that and let God speak to you.)  The answer for control of the tongue is to allow the Holy Spirit to have control of your life.  He can also cleanse the effect of powerful negative words that have been spoken over you, or that you have spoken over yourself,  as you allow his words of love and affirmation to flow over you as you read your Bible.  I have loved you with an everlasting love....You are chosen and precious...... I know the plans I have for you...plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future....   On and on they go.  God believes in you and accepts you.  Allow him to wipe away the power of negative words.  Or, perhaps you are to be who helps someone else to break the power of negative words spoken over their lives.  

Let's go into the new year cleansed of the negative and filled with God's affirmation of love and purpose so that we can fulfil what he has planned for our future.

Prayer:  Wonderful, loving Father, thank you for the great power that is available through you to bring about change in my life and the lives of others.  Forgive me for speaking negative words over my life.  Help me to believe what you say about me.  Please help me to take all that you want to give me so that I can be a channel of your great blessing in the year ahead.  Amen

Friends

Remember His marvellous works.....  1 Chronicles 16:12

One of the marvellous things that God does for us is to give us friends.  A few weeks ago our daughter Cathy had the pleasure of a visit from some wonderful friends from our past which raised some precious and grateful memories for us all.

When we left to serve the Lord in Papua New Guinea in 1977 we always knew that we would have the support of some, then, relatively new friends, Des and Brenda in Auckland.  They had opened their hearts and their home to us.  They also ended up storing some of our 'treasures' for many years. (It's funny to look back and wonder why you thought you might want some of those things again!)

Not only did Brenda faithfully distribute our  'Simmons Snippets' newsletters for the nine years we were in PNG; they also housed us during furlough and holidays, looked after our kids while we did meetings and generally blessed us with their friendship.  We are so thankful to God for the happy memories that we have of our friendship with them and thankful to them for their love and support.

Our last holiday in October and November  included visiting some friends from way back in our lives, some from pre PNG days and others from PNG days.  It reminded me of what a gift friendship is and how blessed we are when people take us into their hearts and homes.  It is truly a gift from God when our hearts are bound together in love, and so worth valuing.

I hope these words stir up for you thankful memories of friends that God has placed in your life, and may it remind us to be faithful to befriend others who God may bring across our path.  There are too many people in our world who need the gift of a friend.  It's something you and I can give.

Christmas is only '3 sleeps away' as I write this and I am reminded of the most wonderful Friend of all that God has given to us in Jesus Christ.  When we receive this special Gift , Jesus calls us His friend (John 15:15).  What an awesome thought it is to know that we are a friend of God.  The God who laid down his life for you and for me so that we might have the hope of 'forever life' with Him.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of the many friends that you have given to me over the years.  Help me to remember them with a thankfulness that spurs me on to continue to offer the gift of friendship to others you place in my path.  Thank you most of all for the most amazing gift you gave in Jesus Christ.  May we be ever willing to share the great news of His friendship with our world.  Amen

Deception

In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well.  Romans 12:6

Recently we toured an artistic workshop, a very unprepossessing place that produces all kinds of amazing props for many top movies.  It was fascinating to see how things are produced and the minute details that are attended to and to hear how people,computer programmes and amazing machines are used to produce such amazing (and often grotesque) results.

During our tour we came upon the workspace of one man who was crafting an amazingly intricate little warrior of days gone by. This figure was only about 3 inches (7.5 cm) high.  He was carving and molding his battle garments and we were in awe of his giftedness.  As we spoke with him, the man insisted that no one is gifted and certainly he was not.  He said that this was just "a muscle" that he had developed.  Anyone could do this.   A couple of us begged to differ! I don't know whether he he realised, but he was deceived.  God has gifted each one of his creation with a gift or gifts.  Yes, they certainly can be developed and honed but we are not all creative or administrative, we can't all sing, write or organise.  I am thankful we have people who willingly carry out the menial tasks in our communities that keep our world working well.

I wondered why this man would deny his giftedness, which I believe he was genuine about.  He wasn't just being humble.  Perhaps he would have had to acknowledge that his gift had come from God and he didn't want to do that.  He might have had to consider God.  Instead he unknowingly gave glory to his own tenacity to developing a certain "muscle".  Romans 1:25 says, They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise!
God has indeed gifted each one of us.  If you don't think yours is very obvious to you, ask Him to reveal that to you, explore it with a friend and above all use your gift for the glory of God, giving thanks to Him.

Prayer:  Great and mighty creator God I give you thanks and praise for the gifts that you have placed in my life.  Please help me to develop them and use them for your glory.  Amen. 

A Question

I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand I will not be moved.  Psalm 16:8

What gives you peace?  Is it knowing that everything is okay in your world; all your ducks are lined up and everything is under control?  Are you at peace when your job is going well, your kids are doing the right thing and your marriage is working well?

It is relatively easy to be at peace when the waters are calm, the gentle breezes just right, and your boat is sailing well in the summer sun.  But what happens when that unexpected wind gets up, the clouds gather and suddenly you find yourself in the midst of a storm?  A storm of sickness, unfaithfulness,  children getting into trouble, problems at work, ..... the list could be endless.  Perhaps you find yourself in the midst of a storm right now.  How are you faring? To whom do you turn?

It is very easy to feel very alone in the midst of problems but Jesus has promised that if we have put our trust in Him then He will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Family or friends might let us down but Jesus never will.  If it's storm time for you then now is the time to step up and allow your faith to be tested and strengthened.  Prove God faithful:  to answer your prayers, to strengthen you through the storm, to give you joy amidst trials.  Yes it must be possible because James 1:2 instructs us to "Count it all joy when we fall into various trials....".   "Is he for real?",you ask. Yes he is.  He goes on to say, "Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience."  Patience is a fruit of the spirit.  Our lives are meant to bear fruit.  Fruit to bring glory to God.

I had recently planted a new shrub out the back of our home.  The wind was blowing it about and I got fearful for its welfare.  My dear husband reminded me that it is by getting blown about that trees become strong and develop a good root system.  Of course, now I remembered that!  It's the same with us, with our loved ones; we so often want to be rescued or to rescue when we see the storms but that's how we grow.  If we need strength, wisdom or courage for negotiating the storm we need only to ask.  Jesus stands ready to help because He is our peace (Ephesians 2:14) and in His presence is fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11). Perhaps it has been your habit when difficulties and trials come to run to the phone and call someone for comfort and wisdom.  Instead why not turn to your Bible and pray that God will be your comfort and your 'listening ear'.  You can find none better, none more faithful and kind.

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, help me to thank  you in my difficulties.  Help me to see they have purpose  for my growth.  Help me not to fear what may come but allow you to be my shelter, my wisdom, my strength and my rock.  Amen