A prayer for God to use even me this day.

Dear LORD ,

Never let the work I do become greater than you.

Remind me it’s your work , not mine.

These hands, this mind, this heart you gave me,

I yield them to you.

May your love guide my hands

May your love control my thinking

May my heart be a reservoir filled to overflowing

With love for you,

That others may see,  and feel,  and know your love

That may be seen in me..

Lord you made no mistakes when you made me,

Imperfect as I am.

I lay this weak and fragile soul of mine

Before you today.

As I seek to follow you in faith.

So hold me close and guide my steps

And show me your face I pray.

In Jesus name. Amen.

A hymn . A prayer of hope in troubled times.

My soul, my soul, why be downcast?

The pain l feel  it  will  not last.

God knows the anguish of my heart,

He will one day His peace impart.

My mind  is troubled now,  but wait,

The time will come. It won’t be late,

When all is well and I am free,

And God will grant me liberty.

This momentary affliction gone,

The throne of grace I’ll gaze upon.

The clothes of righteousness I’ll wear

No suffering will affect me there.

By faith I know you live in me,

And that you hear my every plea.

My ears though dull to hear your voice,

Will in your presence  yet  rejoice.

And so in heaven I’ll find my  place,

And see the smile across His face,

“Welcome home, my child, my friend,”

Life in abundance, without end.

O LORD Our Lord

O LORD, Our Lord ( based on Psalm 8) by B.D.

 O LORD, Our Lord... my God and King

How great your name in all the earth.

No tongue can e’er describe your worth.

Above the heavens, you’ve set your glory

You speak to us. We tell your story.

Your enemies can’t bear your gaze

Or listen to your children’s praise.

The moon and stars you’ve put in place,

The seas and skies reflect your face.

All peoples, nations, you have made

Your love for them will never fade.

Each butterfly and beast and bird,

Created by your spoken word.

It’s willful sin you can’t abide

And from your pure eyes must hide.

All flesh must one day bow the knee

Lost, or redeemed, without one plea,

But that you offered Christ your son,

 You reign on high,  your work is done!

O LORD Our Lord my everything !

Rainbow of Hope

Rainbow of Hope by Brian Dodd

Happiness and tears that mingle,

Incongruous cocktail  of emotions.

 Happiness that melts the frozen depths.

Tears flow, never wanted,  yet liberate the soul.

Joy and pain, strange bedfellows.

 This curious and  real dichotomy.

Why?  I cannot tell.

Sunshine and rain  merge mysteriously

Yet,  together,   form a glorious rainbow of hope.

On Call ( response to mental illness based on own experiences)

On call’ by  Brian Dodd

‘Not feeling well again , dad !’

‘ What’s the trouble son,  explain.

Tell me now.    I’m listening.

Let me know your pain.’

‘My thoughts , they keep on racing.

  Can’t go on. I feel so bad.

I cannot sleep . I cannot rest.

 I think I’m going mad.

I’m anxious and confused, dad

There’s turmoil  in my head.

What is there to live for?

I might as well be dead.’

‘ Son , don’t talk like that, please don’t.

These feelings never last.

They’re just  intruders in your mind.

 Stay strong and  they will pass.

I know just how you’re feeling

Darkness,  doubts and fear.

 At the moment things seem muddy,

But I promise you they’ll clear.

OK, your mind is wandering.

Your nerves  on edge,  unsteady

 But You have so much to live for,

 You’ve achieved so much already!

 I know it’s not the answer,

It’s peace you need to find,

But please , please take those meds son’

(A  band aid for the mind.)

‘Thanks dad for simply  being there,

And pray I’ll soon be right

And That  I will  get better

And darkness turns to light.’

How teachable am I?

20/08/17                          How Teachable Am I?

Psalm 32v8  { NIV } I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go

 I will counsel you and watch over you ( with my eye upon you  AV )

      “ There must be a piece missing !” I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve said these or similar words, not whilst doing jigsaw puzzles but when struggling to assemble a piece of furniture or other item that comes in a flat pack! My problem is , I think I can ignore the instructions. In other words I think I know best which normally ends up as a DIY disaster . Even when I do find the leaflet somewhere at the bottom of the box and read it somehow I still manage to get it wrong ! I obviously haven’t paid close enough attention, thinking I know best and putting it all together intuitively. My failure to insert the correct part in the proper place can even result in me having to dissemble it and start the last section all over before continuing.  Humiliating!!! I’ve found recently that I even forget to read the shopping list, that my wife has  written for me , carefully enough. I then return home with one or two items missed out or the wrong item simply because I failed to scrutinise the list.  My driving isn’t much better. I infuriate my passenger ( often my wife again ) by ignoring the voice on my SATnav . I end up missing turnings, getting in the wrong lane or travelling in the wrong direction ( I did once end up several miles from my intended destination because I typed in an incorrect number or digit. (Am I the only one who’s done this?) Basically,  I don’t listen or rather if I do listen then something happens to the message to my mind somewhere between my ears and my brain! In the verse above we are told  God  Himself has promised to teach me and instruct me in the Way I SHOULD go .  What security, what comfort, what a relief. There are many ways of teaching a lesson but to me, instructions speak of a more detailed, tailor-made plan, the route I ought to be taking in life. Jeremiah 29v11 For I know the plans I have for you, plans for welfare and not for evil , to give you a future and a hope.        He wants to reveal that plan , step by step.

   What else does the verse say? He will counsel me with His eye upon me. My personal counsellor, advisor, guide or life-coach. The Holy Spirit Himself is also known as the Counsellor. We are also told He will constantly ‘watch over us’ or ‘with his eye upon us’ What a reassuring act of providential care. When I was little my parents always endeavoured to keep a close eye upon me. Now that was easy when holding my hand but occasionally, say in a crowded playground or whilst out with friends or on my own , they simply had to trust that I’d be alright. We are never ever out of His sight. Nowhere can we stray from His presence, Praise the Lord ! 

 I got asking myself these things: Am I teachable? Am I humble enough to obey what I’m taught? Do I listen out for His voice or is it lost somewhere in the clamour of other voices and everyday life? Do I want my own way? Am I too busy? The Bible says ‘ Be still and know that I AM GOD’  Can we say with Samuel’ Speak Lord for your servant hears.’ ?

 If we profess to be disciples of Christ then it follows that we are all learners in His school. Christ , the Master, we the learners. What does the Lord want to achieve , instil into our lives through teaching? What does a good teacher or good parent desire from their children ? I would say the number one thing is obedience’ He who has my word and keeps it ,he it is who loves me and he who loves me will be loved by my Father and I will love him and show myself to him .’ The reward of obedience. God reveals more of himself.....and we love Him more... and the circle of faith continues.

Daily we must ask the Lord , what do you want to teach me? What do want me to learn  today?

 What are some of the ways God chooses to teach us? I think there are many but among them must be :-

·         Through His Word

·         Through His Spirit

·         Through circumstances

His Word.  2 Timothy 3v16 All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof and training in righteousness

In scripture it says that God can and does speak also through dreams, pictures and visions.    Peter  in Acts 16 is one example but I feel the most common way he   conveys  His will for  our lives is through His Word. ‘Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." Matthew 4v4      “so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.’ Isaiah 55v11

Do I have an appetite for his Word? Is it my daily sustenance?

The Holy Spirit: Luke 12:12 ‘ for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.’  In John 14v26 Jesus says ‘But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.’   Does this entail some dramatic intervention from God. Not usually. It can be while we wait upon God quietly, while we pray silently, we may be in tune with that ‘still small voice’

Circumstances:  Before I could teach any child in my class effectively it was paramount that I first had their undivided attention. God has to do the same with us.  If the the church is inattentive then God can and will use any means He feels appropriate to Himself to bring us back in line when we’ve strayed or when we become ‘dull of hearing’ .He can evn use adverse circumstances or hostile forces, as He did in the Old Testament. Selwyn Hughes says ‘ God saw it necessary to discipline His people in times past by allowing hostile forces to put them under pressure. Will he do so today? God can and does allow godless influences such as secular humanism or false religions to bring pressure to bear on Christians. Of course, it may be that God not only uses such forces to discipline us  but is teaching us to be loyal to Him and training us to fight in spiritual battles..... God sometimes uses unbelievers to discipline or refine believers eg. An unconverted work colleague to correct a believer, a non-Christian parent to instruct a Christian son or daughter.... few things are more humbling..’

How did God get Jonah’s attention? He certainly learned his lesson the hard way.

Will God deal with me the hard way or will he find me attentive to his voice? If I’m willing He has promised  to lead me gently on ‘Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for my yoke is easy and my burden is light’

The  hymn writer  Benjamin Mansell Ramsay expressed his desire to  follow Christ obediently despite doubts, fears and the storms of life :-

‘When doubts and fears arise

Teach thy way.

When storms and o’erspread the skies

Teach me thy way

Shine through the cloud and rain

Through sorrow, toil and pain

Make thou my pathway plain

Teach me Thy way.

.........

Until the race is run

Until the journeys done

Until the crown is won

Teach me Thy way.’

God has promised to teach us His way to the end.

Am I willing to listen? Am I willing to follow instructions?

Am I teachable? 

Lessons from a seagull

Lessons from a seagull !

During my recent holiday in Looe  whilst visiting Cornwall,  I  came across this lady feeding some seagull chicks in one of the older parts of the town.  . I stopped,  fascinated , as I hadn’t seen baby seagulls close up before,  except for the  few I’d seen earlier that day , nesting  on the rooftops of the houses nearby. We had a chat about why she was doing this and she was delighted to  spend  a few minutes with me. She told  me  that these   chicks, together with many others , frequently slid off the  steep rooftops. Some landed safely and appeared  unhurt , whilst others   die or, like  one of these,  suffer a broken leg or other injuries.  She also happily explained that these three  were still regularly visited  and cared for by the mother , whereas two others close by were orphans and had been abandoned by both parents         ( apparently the male seagull has no further interest in the chicks once they fall from the nest --- how sad!) It was lovely to see the orphans actually trying to feed each other ! She also said that they were in constant danger from cats in the district , though home owners were aware of this and did all they could to prevent  them from attacking.  I was then reliably informed that   when  they were able to fly,  these young birds would be led  by the mother  to the crèche !! Yes the crèche! The crèche was part of the river bank a short distance upstream where all the youngsters were cared for  as a group .

  

          This reminded  me of the love, patience and care God has for us.                                                                       It reminded  me that :-

•                       God created every living creature!

  Genesis 2:19 NIV

19 Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name.

What fun Adam must have had naming these creatures he had never seen before !. There must have been thousands, yet each was given a unique name !  Maybe he saw white and black birds squawking nearby and noticed that they returned to the sea and named them seagulls, who knows ? Did he have to avoid their droppings one wonders ? Did he think them a nuisance? Seagulls get bad press, don’t they, yet that’s largely due to the amount of seagull-enticing food we eat so near their territories !

•                     We are more precious than the birds!

Matthew 6:26 NIV

26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

 Since  I’ve recently moved from town to countryside it’s been a thrill to see such  a variety of birds attracted to the bird feeders in the trees; robins, blue tits, great tits, sparrows, blackbirds, thrushes and more, birds that I’d never seen  at all during the 40 or so years Iived in more  urban areas ! They are so wonderful, daily parading their gorgeously feathered attire, a joy to watch, pecking at the nuts, ravenously gobbling up seeds and fat balls. Jesus says they’re valuable ! But we are more valuable than these and if we trust Him He will provide all that we need .

Luke 12:7 NIV

 7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows

•       God cares as much as a nursing mother.

Isaiah 49:15      God: “Can a woman forget her nursing child, or show no compassion for the child of her womb? Even these she may forget, yet I will not forget you.

 The image of the mother seagull visiting her fallen young chicks,  then,  when they are recovered and strong enough  to lead them off to safety,  will stay with me for a very long time. It is the same parenting love that God has for his children, especially those who are newborn! He will not leave them as orphans but rather hide them under the shadow of His wings ! Psalm 91v4 ‘ NIV
‘He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.’

1 Thessalonians 2:7             

 7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherishes her children:

The apostle Paul was most concerned that as leaders ( or any who are helping young believers) we must be gentle in the way we handle the spiritual growth of others. They need special attebtion, led, if you like, to the ‘crèche’ of the Lord until they are strong enough to stand , flee the nest and go out into the world as witnesses and ambassadors for Christ, strong in the Lord and the strength of His might !