Are We Ready

A friend of ours has died. We hadn’t known her many years, but we like her very very much. She was a really genuine person and we loved her.

My wife and I visited her in hospital a few days before she died. She was frightened and having difficulty breathing and longed to be out in the fresh air, back home amidst familiar surroundings. Our hearts went out to her as we so easily identified with her longing and the fear of letting go. We held hands and talked about Jesus and finally prayed with her, before leaving.

Jesus of course, came to set us free from the fear of death in all its aspects, so it’s best to face any fears while we can. I’m so glad of my experience some years ago, when Father led me into a situation where I had to deal with and come through the fear of loneliness and fear of death.

When I was younger I thought I was immortal, but physical death can happen at any time. It’s during this lifetime that we need to prepare in readiness. I had a conversation with an older acquaintance the other day and he spoke of wanting to die painlessly at a certain age. I replied that I will go when God decides I am ready to go and not until then. I don’t know what it will be like when I come to the final letting go, but hope that it will just be a continuation of being at peace in the presence of Jesus, to actually being with Him face to face.

Are we ready?

“Since the children, as he calls them, are people of flesh and blood, Jesus himself became like them and shared their human nature. He did this so that through his death he might destroy the Devil, who has the power over death, and in this way set free those who were slaves all their lives because of their fear of death.” Hebrews 2:14-15 New International Version

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Doom and Gloom

My favourite time of year is spring, when the countryside begins to sparkle with new life. It give me a real lift, so perhaps that’s why my favourite colours are blue and green.

Seems far away at the moment, with the shortest days and the coldest weather for a decade. On top of that, the media is full of reports from war zones, warnings of environmental disasters, global warming, fuel shortages and of course the dire worldwide financial situation. Almost daily we’re bombarded with accounts of major bank collapses, the housing market slump, house repossessions and famous companies going into liquidation. All this can fuel anxieties of losing our jobs, pensions and even housing. Add to this a bout of influenza and you have a recipe for doom and gloom.

If you have a leaning towards Seasonal Affective Disorder (the winter blues) or if like me, your personality type includes more than a touch of the melancholic, it is easy to drop into heaviness at this time.

What can we do about this? Be kind to ourselves, don’t watch TV or read the papers, go for a brisk walk, buy a light therapy lamp, visit friends or family, eat chocolate, read a good book, go and see the latest movie, see your doctor or counsellor, take a trip to a warmer country - ?

Maybe, some of this could be good advice? But before we begin a downward spiral, we could first of all take responsibility for any anxious thoughts, own up to any feelings and talk it through with Jesus. Remind ourselves Who is in charge of our lives, Who is our security, Who is our Provider, Who has our future in His hands, Who will never ever leave us, Who is totally faithful etc. And even, if again like me, you have a voice like a foghorn and are tone deaf, just praise God and make a joyful noise unto the Lord.

I realise there may be other issues involved - or you may really have lost your job - but I suggest you start here because it really works.

“Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Saviour and my God.” Psalm 42:11 New International Version

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Doctor I'm in Trouble!

"Oh doctor, I'm in trouble - Goodness gracious me,' is a catchy song from an old movie, starring Peter Sellers & Sophia Loren.

Thankfully I've not seen very much of our doctor over the years. When I'm 'in trouble' I usually pray first and give God a chance to work. But when I do go, we are blessed with a good doctor. He listens and tunes in, treating me as a 'person' and not just an 'eye' or a 'lung' or whatever. Not all doctors have such a good patient manner and forget that we may apprehensive to start with.

Either way, we may possibly leave the consulting room with the doctor's words ringing in our ears, thinking, 'goodness gracious me! Could that really happen?' Some words may even sound like some sort of prison sentence, such as, "could be malignant' or 'there maybe serious side effects.' Maybe? Serious? And anxiety and fear start to come scratching at the door of our heart.

If taken in, these words can have a power and may even affect us physically. I find that it's at times like this when I need to listen to Someone who really knows all about me. God the Healer's Word is true and powerful. For example:

"Be still, and know that I am God;" Psalm 46:10

"We are healed by the punishment he suffered, made whole by the blows he received." Isaiah 53:5

"The LORD your God is with you; his power gives you victory -" Zephaniah 3:17

"Don't worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart." Philippians 4:6

"Be patient and wait for the LORD to act; don't be worried -" Psalm 37:7

"- I will heal him; I will guide him and restore comfort to him," Isaiah 57:18

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters ... they shall not overwhelm you; - -" Isaiah 43:1-3

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Daddy, I'm Scared!

I had the afternoon out with one of our grandaughters. It was to be just the two of us and I was really looking forward to it. As it was hot and sunny we started with large ice creams. She reached up to the counter on tiptoe, and studiously considered each flavour. Next, the play park and a ride on the 'train.' We were the only 'passengers,' so she sat in front and rang the bell. The owner could see the joy on her face, so gave us extra time.

As a special treat, I thought we would visit the "Dome." This is a sort of living museum, vividly illustrating over 400 years of local history. Each scene is faithfully replicated, complete with sounds and smells, leaving nothing to the imagination. It's so realistic, that you feel part of the scene. What I hadn't reckoned on, was it's suitability for a six-year old.

As we started the trail I noticed it was darker than expected and before long I felt a tug at my jacket. Her large brown eyes looked up to me; "Grandad!" I wondered what was coming. "I'm frightened!" My heart went out to her as I took her hand. We returned to reception, where it was suggested we go the opposite way round.

It was brighter the other end. She was fascinated by the exhibits and asked lots of questions. At a mock-up of a prison cell she held my hand tighter, asking, "Why is that man wearing chains round his legs?" Eventually we came to the 'scarier' scenes and she decided that was enough adventure for the day.

I was so proud of her.

Even at my age there have been times when I have felt fearful and have needed extra assurance that God was 'there' for me. Like the time when my wife was rushed to hospital, seemingly near to death. I held Father's hand as tight as I could, in what ever way came to me. Step by step he led me - us - through the following weeks and months, as His loving healing was worked out. Just another opprtunity for me to grow in the knowledge of His love.

Fear is part of our lives, it's how we handle it that counts. I'm sure God doesn't want us to keep it inside to fester, but longs to hear the words, "Daddy I'm scared!" I can imagine His answer, "Are you son. Let's talk about it."

"Do not be afraid, for I am with you;" Isaiah 43:5 New International Version

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Flight or Fight?

I thought of calling this post "The Great Escape," because when the going got tough I used to get going. When I was faced with a conflict situation, where I felt threatened, I often looked for an escape route.

When things became difficult in our church we tried another one, only to find they had problems of their own. Work was always highly pressured, so it was easy to defer a difficult decision until later and still be seen to be working hard. In relationships, I tended to avoid any clash of opinion or disagreement.

The ultimate was the house move. The situation at home was trying, transport for our children was getting difficult and we seemed to have reached stalemate in our community. We decided therefore, to sell up and move to the next town and make a fresh start. But try as we might, we couldn't make it happen. As our arrangements for sale and purchase kept falling through, I became desperate.

I needed to hear from God. Perhaps there was something we weren't seeing? That's when we realised we would take our problems with us. It would be a different location, but once things had settled down, there would still be the same lessons to learn. It was only after we decided to stay put, that we saw things in a new light and slowly, very slowly, our circumstances began to change, difficulties eased and we saw no reason to move.

So what was I running from? I came to see that it wasn't people or things or even events that I was scared of, but the feelings within myself. I was afraid how I would cope with others' anger or even my own and then there was the fear of failure. Over the years, I faced these ogres with Jesus and began to find freedom, as I saw myself from God's perspective.

It is still a weak area for me and I may still procrastinate from time to time, but I am learning that:

We have a choice to run away or stay and fight.
If we run away we don't grow.
When we take the first step in faith to face the fears/situation/problem, God steps in and we have as good as won.

"David thought to himself, “One of these days I’m going to be swept away by the hand of Saul! There is nothing better for me than to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will despair of searching for me through all the territory of Israel and I will escape from his hand.” 1 Samuel 27:1 New English Translation

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Committed to Follow

Dartmoor is almost on our doorstep. It's one of the few real wildernessess left in England and it was my ambition to walk across it from north to south. I researched the route and reckoned it was achievable in a day, provided I was adequately prepared.

I set out on a fine summer's day, booted and fully equipped with Gortex waterproofs, map, compass, and rucksack packed with food, drink and emergency kit. The archetypical hill-walker, looking the part and ready for anything?

I soon eased myself into a relaxed stride, drinking in the familiar solitude around me. There was a long way to go, so I was careful to conserve energy and pace myself. After an hour or two I descended to Plym Head and looked around for a way up to the ridge above. A prolonged scramble and I was standing on the top by Boulder Rock, surveying the scene. I was at a watershed between two vast catchments. Stretched below in front of me was the real wilderness area. It was completely unknown to me, with no marked paths, rough going, with treacherous bogs and mires that can swallow up whole stray cattle.

This wasn't just lines on a map, but the real thing and although I was excited, I suddenly felt very much alone and scared. Thoughts went through my mind. "Would I have enough strength, how will I find a way, will I get lost, perhaps I should turn back while I can, it's too risky on my own?" This was decision time. I dismissed the doubts and fears. I was committed to this and if I was going to be true to myself and the desire within, I had to go on. Through the haze I could just make out a faint point in the far distance, that could be the line of the old quarry rail track. I fixed a compass bearing on it and stepped down into the unknown and passed the point of no return.

Step by step I descended into the valley, picking my way through the rocks and skirting the bogs and potholes. All the way I didn't experience a single diversion or wrong move. What followed was an unforgettable walk through stunning wild scenery. At the end of the day, well before sunset, I sat on a low wall feeling very tired but fulfilled, waiting for my son to come and pick me up.

If we say we are a Christian, surrendered to God, then He will be looking for a deliberate commitment to following Him into the unknown. During our life there will be challenges to our commitment There may even be a deliberate defining decision, that will be pivotal to the rest of our life. It can be frightening to step into what seems unknown, but we have His Word and His promise to be with us all the way.

"Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: "He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun." Psalm 37:5-6 New International Version

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Facing the Fears

Mummy was expecting another baby and her toddler was taken far away to live with an aunt he didn't know. The aunt was a capable mother, but she was very strict. The little boy was used to sleeping with the door open and a dim light by his bed, but he wasn't allowed a light and the door was closed. Everything seemed very strange and he was frightened and wanted his mummy. After three weeks he was taken home, but he never really understood why he was sent away.

Several years later, whilst he was lying on the floor in the kitchen, a pan of boiling water on the range was overturned. His arm took the full force. He didn't cry, but his mother screamed and panicked. They were taken by a friend to the hospital, where he lay in shock. They didn't encourage visitors and he was very lonely. They turned the lights out at night and he was frightened. After several weeks he was released home. He had a nervous tic, but no one knew why.

It was so scary he certainly didn't want to go back to that place. He worked it out that somehow it must have been his fault, so provided he was a good boy he wouldn't be sent away again. This way of seeing things took hold into manhood. There were times, especially if he sensed a confrontational situation, when he thought it better to say what was expected. Deep down he was afraid that if he spoke out what was really in his heart, they may get angry and even reject him. So fear was getting in the way of him being his real self.

I leave you to work out who the little boy was, but I only tell this story to show how fears can take hold of our lives and partly disable us. This was about the fear of rejection, but trauma and fears come in many forms and we cope in different ways.

When we become Christians the love of Christ comes in to us, and the potential for change is available to us. As God highlights what is really happening in our lives and we dare to face the fears and open ourselves to His truth, we enter into more freedom. The emotion of fear is part of us and can have positive results. Fear can also be destructive and disabling, but the more we immerse ourselves in Father's love, it melts away.

"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." 1 John 4:18 New International Version

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Walking With God

Before I was diagnosed with chronic fatigue I had strong legs and walked for miles. I really loved the thrill and excitement of walking in the hills and mountains. There I found stunningly beautiful scenery, contrasting with the solitude and adventure of the scary wild places. I couldn't get enough.

I miss it now of course and letting it go was difficult at first. I have since however, discovered even more of the thrill of walking with God. Walking in fellowship with Father beats it all hands down and surpasses any mountain experience. There is no greater challenge, with a surprise around every bend. Nothing is more beautiful and brings satisfaction that goes deeper than anything I have ever known. Yes, it is frightening at times, but nothing compares with it.

When we walk with God
there is peace and joy within

When we walk with God
there is life in abundance

When we walk with God
there is freedom

When we walk with God
there is contentment and rest for our soul

When we walk with God
there is beauty and intimacy

When we walk with God
there is adventure and challenge

When we walk with God
we discover who we really are

When we walk with God
there is so much more -

Let us take His hand today and walk with Him

"Enoch walked with God" Genesis 5:24 New International Version

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When You Just Don't Know

Have you ever been in a challenging situation where you just do not know which way to turn and wonder how you will cope? When there does not seem a way forward and it feels like everything could go pear-shaped and out of control?

If you are anything like me you may find it more than a bit scary and feelings of helplessness and fear come knocking at your door. Fear can cripple and paralyse us and stop us hearing from God. That's when all the 'what if's' can come to mind and the worst-case scenarios flash before us. For a moment, we may even forget that God is so close.

I then remind myself of similar occasions in the past and remember how, step by step, God brought us through. This one of course will be quite different, even bigger and scarier and more impossible, but then that's just to stretch our faith. This is no time to copy what went before but to give over everything to God.

This is the time to reach out to Jesus from the heart. It doesn't take much, hardly a word. He gently but firmly takes our hand - note it's the right hand, our action hand, our sword hand - and as He does this the fear begins to fade. We become aware of the resources within us and slowly peace begins to descend.

When we come to the end of our own human resources is the time when God is free to move in with His might. It's the moment He's waiting for and He has out attention as never before. He takes our hand and leads us in ways that previously we thought not possible. As we continue to llok to Him and abide in Him, He will even break down seemingly impossible barriers to enable His will for us. He will never ever let us down.

"For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you." Isaiah 41:13 New International Version

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Strike While the Iron's Hot!

I find that God's opportunities for blessings and spiritual growth rarely come according to my planning. They are usually least expected and at times even inconvenient.

Have you ever been woken in the night with feelings of anxiety or worry and had difficulty getting off to sleep again? I went through a period like that. At first I would switch the light on and read for a while or just bury my head in the bedclothes to blot out the feelings. My reasoning was, that I would deal with the matter in the morning. Come the morning and it was never quite the same of course. The moment had gone and the energy dissipated. I would still pray, but often the full potential for blessing had been missed.

I learned the hard way - is there another way? - to seize the moment. If anxiety began to surface, I dealt with it there and then. I would invite Jesus into the situation and feel the feelings with Him. Amazing to see how the fear melts away and no longer has a hold. If I felt I was being oppressed, I'd get out of bed and deal with it in prayer. The enemy doesn't go to bed, but neither does God and His power is awesome. I can't say it always works, but more often than not I sleep better afterwards. More importantly, there's another victory realised.

The other evening, when I was really tired after a hard day, my wife started to share a matter that had come to her. It was really important, God had revealed something to her and I listened the best I could and we talked about it. She asked if we should pray there and then, but I was so tired. I thought we would be more effective in the morning, after a night's sleep. Morning came and the energy was gone, we had missed the moment until next time.

Seize the moment of opportunity, flow with the move of the Holy Spirit and know God's blessing.

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:" Ecclesiastes 3:1 New International Version

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The Fear of Dying

Sadly, a distant relation of my wife died last month. We were told it was difficult for him in the last days because he was afraid of going to sleep in case he didn't wake up.

I can understand and identify with this. Several years ago, when I was recovering from an operation, I was overcome with anxiety and had extreme difficulty getting off to sleep. I was afraid I might die or more exactly I was afraid of the feelings involved in dying. The thought of being all alone, totally abandoned, filled me with utter dread. I know that when eventually my time comes, I will be with Jesus for ever, but deep down I feared the process. I was hanging onto control by my finger nails. Father knew what was in my heart of course and slowly over the months, as I looked to Him as never before, as I felt the feelings with Him, He melted this fear away with His love.

Seemingly the Christian walk is full of paradoxes. We have a God-given desire to live life to the full, but are asked to hand our lives over to God, so that we may live. If we have a fear of death or dying, we will have difficulty in yielding to God and living a Holy Spirit controlled life. We will miss out on the abundant life.

When we belong to God, we need not fear death, for Jesus came to set us free from the fear of death. If this is an issue for you, then talk to Jesus about it, rather now than later.

"If you're not ready to die, then you're not ready to live. Make certain of your eternal destiny; then you will be free to serve—devoting your life to what really counts, without fear of death." (Life Application Study Bible notes)

"Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death - that is, the devil - and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death." Hebrews 2:14-15 New International Version

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More Risky Living

In talking with my wife as we started the day together, we debated whether we were afraid of taking risks. Not that the last few years have been easy, far from it. At times it's been real hard and seemingly risky, like living on the edge. We can look back and see how far we have come, but we don't want to get stuck in a rut.

Each time we have stepped out in faith on something God has put on our hearts, we have been amazed at God's provision. Things that have seemed downright impossible have all worked out. It felt like His angels had gone before and prepared the way and removed all the obstacles as we moved forward.

But that was yesterday. God is always moving on to a new thing and if we want God's best for us we have to move with Him! There's a great deal more that I am longing for, desires that I believe God has planted. But moving out on those could be risky. If you are like me you want to have things planned with God's provision in place before you launch out from your position of comfort. But it doesn't work like that. We have to step out first, then God moves in with his provision. Sometimes it feels like stepping into the unknown, without a full map of where we are going - scary! God does things differently to us and it's difficult to understand some times, so we have to stick close to Him and trust.

But where's the risk, when God will move heaven and earth with all His mighty power to make His will happen for us. Nothing and nobody can stand in His way. Yes, there will be many twists and turns on the journey and it will feel scary at times, but that's the excitement of the adventure.

We know we can trust Him - exercising our faith is life itself - so what are we waiting for?

"I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron." Isaiah 45:2 New International Version

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Man Spoils - God Restores

"So God made them all, and he was pleased with what he saw." Genesis 1:25 Good News Bible

"... O my soul, bless GOD, don't forget a single blessing! He forgives your sins - every one. He heals your diseases - every one. He redeems you from hell - saves your life! He crowns you with love and mercy - a paradise crown. He wraps you in goodness - beauty eternal. He renews your youth - you're always young in his presence. GOD makes everything come out right; he puts victims back on their feet" Psalm 103:1-5 The Message Bible

One morning last winter, we became aware of a loud grinding noise after breakfast. Looking out of the window, we saw a large red tractor with some sort of attachment, like a large mower and flail, cutting down the undergrowth on the steep hillside opposite.

For thirty years we have enjoyed the view from our living room. The natural covering in buddleia, gorse and hawthorn was a delight, besides providing a natural habitat for the abundant wildlife.

Before our eyes, the whole hillside was being scalped, with all the debris just left to rot. A phone call revealed that the new landowner just "wanted to see what he'd bought!" The owner can do what he likes to his land within the law, it's not our responsibility. However his thoughtless and untimely action had caused a spoiling and a desecration of God's beautiful creation.

Over the last nine months, while it has lain fallow and untouched by man, a natural regeneration has been going on. The heavy unseasonable rainfall this summer resulted in rapid new growth. The hillside now appears lush and green. Ferns and gorse are pushing through and flowers we had never seen before are shining across at us. Soon the wildlife will start to return. God's creative restoration process is under way.

Similarly, our lives can be spoiled by the thoughtless actions of others, wrong handling or abuse, or even our own behaviour patterns and addictions. Life's hurts can damage us, but when we turn to God and allow Jesus into our lives, a restoration process begins. When we surrender to God and put our lives into His loving hands and let Him have His way with us, we experience new growth. We realise the benefits and blessings of belonging to God's family.

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Facing the Mountain

"The simple truth is that if you had a mere kernel of faith, a poppy seed, say, you would tell this mountain, 'Move!' and it would move. There is nothing you wouldn't be able to tackle." Matthew 17:20 The Message Bible

One of my weaknesses is procrastination. If there is something I have to do that could be difficult, unpleasant or involves confrontation or stepping into the unknown, I have a tendency to put it off for another day. The trouble is 'another day' may never come.

When I was working for our regional water company, the water supply strategy was changed for the whole area. This was a major undertaking, involving a new reservoir and miles of pipelines. Once the design and construction engineers had completed their work, it was handed over to us operational guys to make it work. The problem was that no one really wanted to do it. Some even thought that some aspects of the project were ill conceived, as the untreated water discharged into a very old water mains of doubtful condition. It was fraught with difficulties and if anything went wrong, the results could be catastrophic and my job would be on the line. For a while I even thought it best to leave things as they were.

I realised however, that it was up to me to get the ball rolling. The time had come to dismiss the doubts and fears and look at what we'd got. This meant getting together those involved, each with expertise in their own field and have a brainstorming session. All the difficulties, technical details, suggestions etc. were written on a board and someone was delegated to go away and make some sense of it. Each time we met, a plan slowly emerged. Preparations were finalised and the day arrived when we were to start the switch over. One of my colleagues was a Christian and we must have prayed over every inch and nut and bolt of that project. The big day came to start the changeover and each day over the next few weeks, we took one step after another, until it was up and running. There were no insurmountable problems.

I learned an important lesson through that experience. Whenever we step out in faith in something new, there is nearly always a trench of fear and doubt to cross. However, when faced square on, the 'mountain' of fear starts to melt away and the seemingly impossible becomes possible.

Nothing is too difficult for God.

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Opening our Eyes

“.. having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints ...” (Ephesians 1:18 ESV)

Our living room window was damaged in the severe storms this year. The intense shaking caused the seal between the two sheets of glass to break. This resulted in condensation building up and flowing down like large streaks of tears. It became so bad that it was like trying to see through a fog. It couldn’t be cleaned because all the mess was on the inside. We just had to endure it all winter, until the expert repair firm finally came to replace the whole unit.

It was a difficult job requiring very careful planning. Once the massive new pane was installed however, we were amazed at the view that was opened up. It had been there all the time, except we couldn’t see it. The beauty of the lush green growth on the hill opposite and the panoramic vista of the ocean were a delight to behold.

This reminds me how it can be for us sometimes. We may keep Jesus out of a certain area of our life, either through fear or some other reason. The problem is it keeps us from living to our full potential and blurs our spiritual vision. When we allow Jesus into those hidden areas He wipes away the tears, cleans away the grime and lifts off the shame. The result is our vision is cleared and we see things from God’s perspective. We see Jesus.

It’s life-changing.

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Stability in a Changing World

"I am the LORD, and I do not change" Malachi 3:6 Good News Bible

Things can never stay the same, but change in our lives and the world can have an unsettling effect upon us.

I used to like having things cut and dried and in order around me. It gave me a feeling of safety. I do like change though, especially if I have arranged it myself and it's enjoyable. However, if it comes out of the blue, out of my control and involves going into unknown territory, it can be scary. I may even find my inner security threatened.

My wife and I have experienced a number of events over the last two or three years, that could have ended in disaster or even tragedy. Thankfully God brought us through and I believe we are stronger because of it. It did however, reveal that I still have some weakness in the area of anxiety and I need to look to God to strengthen me in that department.

The whole world is changing and not necessarily for the good. Global warming seems to be having a drastic effect upon weather patterns, with forest fires, tsunamis, hurricanes, earthquakes and famine. We just cannot learn to live with one another and as a result there are civil wars, ethnic cleansing, suppression, human abuse and terror attacks. Financial crisis, property repossessions and unemployment, may be nearer to home. The list seems endless. These things may not impinge directly upon our lives, but we can't escape the overall consequences. Even thinking of these things, has the potential to engender fear in our hearts.

Thankfully, there is One who does not change. God is always the same. The world may seem to be collapsing around us, but He is always steady. He is our Rock, our true Foundation. Cleave to Him, surrender to Him, walk with him, stay close to Him and we will share in His stability in a changing world.

He must weep over what He sees in the world, but He waits .... patiently .... with open arms.

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Throw them Overboard

“The violent storm continued, so on the next day they began to throw some of the ship's cargo overboard ..” (Acts 27:18 GNB)

Although I am no sailor, I have a love of boats and anything to do with the water. My wife and I often refer to one of our favourite paintings. It’s depicts an open sailing boat with an large orange mainsail, creaming along in a turquoise frothy sea. A couple - that’s us - are seated in the stern, relaxed and confident, looking into the sun, as they sail into the wide blue yonder.

It’s a beautiful picture and speaks to me of effortless adventure. The adventurers are fully yielded to God in complete trust. They are secure in the knowledge that He is in absolute control of their lives and will get them to their destination.

This idyllic scene can change when the weather turns stormy, the waves become threatening and fear knocks at the door of our hearts. If you are anything like me you may be tempted to make your own plans, just in case things don’t work out. This could be analagous to towing a lifeboat behind us and filling the boat with unnecessary cargo for comfort and life preservation. The problem with that is, it just serves to slow the boat down or at worst even sink it.

We can carry cargoes like old habits, old ways, giving importance to material possessions, anything that can take our eyes of the Master Mariner and water down our trust in Him. Let’s throw them overboard and cut free.

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Bring it into the light

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5 ESV)

Is there anything in your life that you're hiding away? Some feeling or memory from the past, a problem that looms large? Are you putting off looking at it, perhaps because of fear, afraid of what you might find?

We don’t often go into the back of our cellar, it’s dark and cramped.

However, when our plumbing needed attention, our son crawled in to check. He was in for a surprise! He found mushrooms growing on the wall below our bathroom. Removing the side panel of the bath and peeking inside, I realised it was in danger of sinking through the floor. I quickly replaced the panel, thinking that, what’s hidden will be forgotten. To be honest, I was a bit scared of what else I might find and what might be entailed putting it right.

Somehow, I found the courage to face the mountain. I disconnected the heavy cast iron bath and heaved it outside - I should have sought help for that bit! This revealed rotten wood, which I cut out, treated what remained, and replaced with new flooring. Despite two days of inconvenience for the family, everything was re-plumbed and the job complete. I felt stimulated and satisfied, grateful for the gifts and help God had given me.

I’ve been guilty of being in denial in the past. Sweeping fears under the carpet, hoping they would go away. They didn’t of course! They festered and affected my life, stopping me living to the full. With some help at first, I faced the fears and pain with Jesus. Once in the Light, the fears melted away as Jesus gently washed and cleansed the wound, making me new again.

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