Sunday 29 March 2015

Are You there Lord?

"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD.          (Jer. 29.13,14a)

Our first day of travelling was long and a little exhausting, but generally without incident. We had a two hour wait at Kuala Lumpur for the connecting flight to Penang but all went well. We were pleased to arrive at a most comfortable Penang hotel.

Waking the next day, I was mindful of God encouraging me to seek Him in this place. I had absolutely no idea of what lay ahead. After breakfast we decided to start the day's exploration utilising the hop-on-hop-off bus. We had made just a couple of stops when, heaven forbid, I lost my wallet! Dismay and mild panic hit together. At risk were bank cards and driver's licence. What would this mean if I did not recover them? God, where are You?

A seemingly endless walk in high temperature and matching humidity got us back to the hotel - much thanks to Joshua's navigating. The hotel staff were most helpful, contacting the bus company, then reporting back to me that no wallet was found. In exploring every eventuality, I returned to the bus stop, met with the company's local manager, and together we searched the bus when it came round again. But still no wallet.

Ah well! Next followed a couple of hours on long-distance phone calls cancelling cards, and also the hire car booked for Germany. Without my driver's licence I could not proceed.

Having seen to the necessary, I decided we should then get on with our holiday. We enjoyed a wonderful visit to Penang Hill, the view from the top being simply breathtaking. On returning to the city we enjoyed a most pleasant dinner.

So the day was not totally lost. But where was God in it? As I reflect on these most recent events, my mind goes back to my pilgrimage walk in Spain last year. Several times during that walk I had no option but to trust God - completely! I did, and I know I grew. I'm sensing something similar now. God has planned His holiday for us this year. He simply wants us to trust Him. I know I can do this, and I will. But, if you are willing, I'd appreciate your prayers. Thank you. God bless.




Lord,
I know You're in charge. I thank You for today and all the events of the day, especially the wonderful people I met. I trust You. I look forward to the holiday You have planned for us.  I love You.     Amen.



Friday 27 March 2015

Another Adventure

“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”           Matt. 28.20b


My departure for overseas this year is timed a little earlier than in previous years. This is in order to benefit from the Easter school holidays. This year I am taking my Grandson, Joshua, on his first overseas trip.

The itinerary is somewhat different to my previous visits to Spain and the pilgrimage journeys. This year there will be more focus on sightseeing, though we hope to do a reasonable amount of walking. And, as always, we will be journeying with God – walking with Jesus.

Already I am feeling an excitement about where He will take us and what He might show us. I am thrilled to be sharing this experience with my Grandson. May the good Lord reveal wonders of His creation as we travel, and may He connect us with like-minded and beautiful believers in whatever places we find ourselves.

I commit this time, as indeed I commit each and every day, into the fullness of his will. May we know His powerful and sweet presence with us every step of the way, and every minute of each day.

My Lord Jesus is the most wonderful travelling companion. May we both know that He is with us, and may His light shine forth from us to touch and bless all those we meet on the way.




Lord God,

I commit this new adventure to You. I pray for Joshua and myself. May we know Your protection over us at all times. Keep us in the fullness of good health. Let us receive Your provision in every instance. Allow us to enjoy each other’s company and every interaction with those we come in contact with. Above all, may we share our travels with You, to the mutual benefit of us all.

I pray for the places we visit. Let us see the sights You wish us to see. Let us meet the people You would have us connect with in God-ordained encounter.


I ask that You keep us from any adverse incidents or meetings. May we know Your grace and favour in every instance. May we delight You in our travels and in the way we conduct ourselves. Lead us on, in Jesus’ name I ask.                   Amen.

Wednesday 25 March 2015

Signs?

“Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders,”  Jesus told him, “you will never believe.”                                                                                                                      John 4.48


Jesus here seems to show concern that the Galileans need the demonstration of miracles in order to believe.

Even the disciples looked for signs. When Thomas asked to see the marks on Jesus’ hands after the crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus said, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20.29)

Jesus’ preference, it would seem, is for us to believe without great demonstrations of God’s mighty power. Notwithstanding, it is clear that signs, miracles and wonders are potent in the witness to non-believers, and provide great encouragement to believers.

I do believe. Do I need signs and miracles? I believe I have already experienced some in my Christian journey, so it is difficult to say I don’t need them. What I do know is that I’d like to see signs, wonders and miracles manifest in my ministry for God, because I delight to see His power operate in the lives of his creation.




Lord God,

I do believe, and I attribute this to Your divine intervention in my life. I think I can believe without the manifestation of signs, wonders and miracles. Yet I do humbly ask that I might see such things come to pass as I minister for You.

There are many hurting and suffering Christians to whom miraculous intervention could bring relief, hope and joyful witness. There are so many living presently in darkness for whom miraculous events would put on the light of God, demonstrating His sovereign and irrefutable power.

I love You and seek to live fully in Your will. I pray this might include seeing the miraculous in my journey with You. I pray this in Jesus’ name.           Amen.



My book “God Talk” is available through major Internet booksellers.
A taste of the book's content can be seen in the You Tube clip (Search: Peter Francis - "God Talk").





Sunday 22 March 2015

Testimony

Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.”                                                  John 4.39


An unnamed, wayward Samaritan woman quite possibly became the first missionary of the New Testament. She was effective through the simple act of relating what Jesus had done for her. How easy is that? Through this unlikely source, many around her came to believe.

As mature as I would like to see myself as a Christian, I still think of myself as an unlikely source for evangelism. I can take a clear lesson from this unknown lady of so long ago. Her strength was her reality. Jesus had opened her eyes with His truth. Despite the subject matter showing her up unfavourably, she freely told those around her of the amazing things that Jesus had said.

She tells me that I am not to be ashamed of anything that Jesus might reveal about me, whether known by me or not. All truth can be used by Him for His praise and glory.

Oh, that I might follow the Samaritan woman and spread the good news by the word of my testimony.




Lord Jesus,

I feel slightly ashamed that a person such as the Samaritan woman can be such an advocate for You. I am no better than she, yet that she seems to have spoken more freely about You than I do.

I want to be a freer, better, more open witness for You. Help me please. Let the words come out of my mouth in the right way at the right time. May Your Holy Spirit alert me to situations wherein I can be Your ambassador. You are so very real to me. Enable me, please, to share that reality more and more as I journey through this life. Help me in this, in Your precious name I ask.                    Amen.




Thursday 19 March 2015

An Alternative

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”                                                                                                   Matt. 5.38,39


The directive of Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth is stated three times in the Old Testament. The first, in Exodus 21.24 considers a pregnant woman who may be hit and injured by fighting men. In the case of serious injury to the woman, the penalty was to apply. In Leviticus 24.20 the situation is of fighting between neighbours, while Deuteronomy 19.21 concerns false witness being given in court. It appears that each case illustrates the so-called law of retaliation, and the references are meant to show that the punishment is to fit the crime but not to be excessive of it.

However, in Matthew’s narrative Jesus would appear to be invoking the “law of love”. As I ponder on this, I see that Jesus is offering me an alternative. It’s as if He’s saying, “You have a choice. You may go with the law of retaliation and exact a punishment. But, be warned, the punishment is not to exceed the crime. Yet, if you say you are a Christian, I ask you to follow the law of love. If your aim is simply to seek vengeance, then the law of retaliation is the way for you. But if you are more concerned with the health and wellbeing – of everyone – then you need to follow the law of love. It is the law of love rather than the law of retaliation that holds in the kingdom of God.”

It may often be far more difficult to follow the law of love rather than the law of retaliation, but I know the way I’d like to go.




Lord Jesus,

I choose the law of love. I ask You to help me to follow this choice. Give me wisdom and insight to see the right way to go. Strengthen me to go that way. Lead me and walk with me, in the fullness of love.              Amen.




My book “God Talk” is available through major Internet booksellers.
A taste of the book's content can be seen in the You Tube clip (Search: Peter Francis - "God Talk").