Parallel Paths

We’ve not long returned home from a delightful week, staying with one of our families and enjoying time with our grandchildren.

They are all so different; each one so unique! The eldest is fearless, loving and so talented and enthusiastic. I can just picture her as an actress on the stage or an Olympic ice skater. Her sister is more of an academic and I can already see the beginnings of a teacher in her, possibly? The little one is so quick to learn and is picking up much by copying her older sisters - the good and not so good! She is already displaying a determination and independence. They get on well together, but occasionally the spectre of jealousy raises its head to spoil the harmony.

We are pleased to see that although their parents are bringing them up with love and discipline, but at the same time they are encouraging and nurturing their individuality and special talents. I just pray that as they grow up, their adventurous spirits will not be crushed. Also, I hope they will resist the peer pressures to conform, so that they will dare to become the people that God has made them to be.

Isn’t it like this within the Church? As Christians we all have the same heavenly Father and are treading the same journey of faith. We are all going the same way, but because we are all different, we walk along parallel paths of discovery. Sometimes, other church members may feel threatened by such individuality and there may be a perceived pressure to conform. Some leaders may even feel their positions threatened by this apparent threat to the status quo.

Rather than feeling fearful of such people, we should embrace the difference that makes up the whole. We don't have to copy each other, or even agree, but we do need to love and accept.

Vive la difference!

"We have many parts in the one body, and all these parts have different functions. In the same way, though we are many, we are one body in union with Christ, and we are all joined to each other as different parts of one body." Romans 12:4-5 Good News Bible

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Christian Healing - 5 Abiding

Abiding is absolutely key. This is where our Christian walk starts and continues to be maintained. When we make our home with Jesus the Bible comes alive and we begin to be in tune with God.

In our need for healing, it is in this heart to heart relationship that God hears our cry. This is where we hear His Word and especially those living personal Words just for us. Words that bring hope and life into our situation. But this is where the battle really commences. Satan just does not like this.

We may become aware of Satan’s lies, as fear and doubt try to get a hold. Taunts like “Who do you think you are?” or “Come on get real, you don’t really believe this do you?!” But as we continue to abide in Him surrounded by His love, we are safe from all the flaming arrows and missiles that come our way. They just cannot touch us. As we shelter wrapped in Father’s cloak we are assured of His comfort and His victory.

Pain and discomfort can cause us to sink and make it difficult to keep our focus on Him. Pain is very wearing and at worst it feels like trying to see through a fog. At such times I feel the only thing to do - and the best - is to surrender in complete trust. Throw ourselves into Father’s arms knowing He will fight the battle for us and bring us through.

Our focus of course, is not on the promised healing, but on the Promiser and Healer, so the bottom line is absolute surrender. This gives the Holy Spirit absolute freedom to move in our lives, whenever and however. The opposite to this is complaining - which I am well familiar with - and only serves to prolong the process. Unconditional yielding to God is tantamount to saying, ‘I yield to you Father whether you heal me or not.’ This may seem paradoxical, but it’s no different to saying we have to ‘lose our life to gain it.’ Knowing God will do what he said he will do, means we can do this. We trust Him. This is such a simple childlike heart action, but I for one have found it not easy and has often taken some crisis to bring it about.

I’ve said nothing so far about the medical profession and healing. I have no doubt that God works through doctors and treatments. Where would we be without them? But I’m not sure I would describe it as divine healing. Doctors do not have all the answers and some prescribed drugs are toxic with side effects that can have a drastic effect upon our quality of life. Enough said.

God does a proper job.

“Whoever goes to the LORD for safety, whoever remains under the protection of the Almighty, can say to him, "You are my defender and protector. You are my God; in you I trust." He will keep you safe from all hidden dangers and from all deadly diseases.” Psalm 91:1-3 Good News Bible

“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, then you will ask for anything you wish, and you shall have it.” John 15:7 Good News Bible

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How Low Do We Have to Get ..?

We were once very concerned for someone we had met and felt that she could be heading for a breakdown. I mentioned this to a counsellor who said, “Perhaps she needs the breakdown?” I took this to mean that she had to get really low before she would look at what was really happening for her.

I knew someone once, who always felt that he had never really ‘made it’ to be a Christian. He felt he didn’t measure up to other Christians he knew, which was a barrier to him receiving the assurance that God loved him just as he was. In a way he was in denial to what was happening within himself. Then one day he was rushed to hospital in an emergency. When I visited him it seemed that he was failing. I sensed the urgency and tried to talk with him and asked if he would like me to pray. He declined, possibly because he didn’t want to face what could be the truth. I wondered if my words had been stumbling and insensitive, but prayed inwardly nevertheless. Two days later and he passed away.

The Gospels are full of accounts where Jesus met people at their point of need. This is how I became a Christian and I also believe this is how we move forward in our Christian walk. We may be ‘born again’ or ‘saved’ or however we like to describe that heart knowledge of belonging to God, but are we moving on with him? Are we letting Him into those ‘hidden’ areas of our lives? Are we aware of our need for Him, or are we blissfully unaware of our deep ‘wounds’ or the ungodly behaviour patterns that have become second nature.

There is at least one occasion in my life, where I almost hit rock bottom, before God really had my full attention, but I’m sure it didn’t have to be that way. How low do we have to get before we respond to His open arms?

"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.” Matthew 5:3 The Message Bible

"Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor; the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them!” Matthew 5:3 Good News Bible

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Stretched Beyond Ourselves

Have you ever gone through a period when you felt you just couldn’t take any more?

My wife has had a chronic illness for a long time and over the years the disabling effect has slowly become more progressive. On top of this I was eventually diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (M.E.). All this changed the direction of our lives. In our stumbling and reaching out to God in the difficulties, there were benefits. We came to know more of a marvellous God and experience His provision, enabling, healing and love in remarkable ways. We began to discover who we really were and in the long term this also brought my wife and I closer together. I’m sure this wouldn’t have happened otherwise.

In recent years I experienced two prolonged periods, where I was stretched far beyond what I felt I could cope with physically, emotionally and mentally. Looking back I can see similarities.

Each time I was tipped outside the boundaries of my comfy little world, into a situation that was totally foreign to me. I was frightened and initially I wanted to escape. However, within me there was a determination to see it through, whatever that meant. I desperately needed His understanding and clung to Jesus as never before.

As the months passed, the emotional and mental pounding was relentless, making me wonder just how much more I could take. Alongside this, even though God seemed distant, He occasionally encouraged me in breath-taking ways. And just when I was sort of getting used to it, God moved in and the desolation lifted as suddenly as it came, with a feeling of tremendous relief and thankfulness.

Afterwards, I saw things from a different perspective. Life still wasn’t a bed of roses, but something had happened within me. I had tapped into resources way beyond myself and also had a realisation, that with Him, we can cope with far more than we realise.

I believe that God longs to raise the level of the game and draw us out of our independent do-it-yourself attitudes, into a total dependence upon Him. This is the Abundant Life.

This is what Oswald Chambers says:

“A saint’s life is in the hands of God like a bow and arrow in the hands of an archer. God is aiming at something the saint cannot see, and He stretches and strains, and every now and again the saint says - ‘I cannot stand any more. God does not heed, He goes on stretching till His purpose is in sight, then He lets fly. Trust yourself in God’s hands. For what have you need of patience just now? Maintain your relationship to Jesus Christ by the patience of faith. - - - The real meaning of eternal life is a life that can face anything it has to face without wavering. If we take this view, life becomes one great romance, a glorious opportunity for seeing marvellous things all the time. God is disciplining us to get us into this central place of power.” Our Utmost for His Highest.

“No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it.” 1Corinthians 10:13 The Message Bible

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Control and Dominance

The seagulls are back on our roof and with a vengeance! It's not that I don't like the birds, I think they are a beautiful part of the seaside scene, but preferably not nesting on our roof!

They regard the area as their own territory and guard it jealously, especially when the chicks are about to hatch. Our garden slopes above the height of the roof and when I appear they squawk like mad and go on the attack, missing me by inches. When I was up a ladder, painting the front of our house, they dive-bombed me so much, that I had to wear a hard hat - safety helmet- to protect myself from their deadly beaks. They obviously feel vulnerable up there with their young and will go to any lengths to keep us away.

I sometimes wonder if any of us are like those seagulls. Do we behave in a way that keeps people away from those parts of us that are vulnerable and tender? We can do this by staying in control of conversations or making sure we are the dominant partner in a relationship or in any other way that keeps people at arms length. The problem then is that others don't get to know us and we don't get to know them.

If we are like this with people, then surely we will be the same in our relationship with God? We could be saying to Him, "You can have any part of me, but please don't go there!" If we keep God at a distance, not allowing Him full control over our lives, we miss out. But Jesus is gentle and knows us so well. We can trust Him with those scary places. When we allow Him into our inner pain, he will cleanse and heal and lift the shame.

When we know who we are in Christ, we can dare to allow others close, without shame or fear.

"I ask God from the wealth of his glory to give you power through his Spirit to be strong in your inner selves," Ephesians 3:16 New International Version

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Flying in the Face of Reason

When I was a boy I had some difficulty expressing myself, both vocally and in writing. This was particularly so with adults. I remember one of the teachers wrote in my school report, "I wish he would come out of his shell!" This improved with time and I learned to compensate for my lack. However, I always stood in awe of those who were well endowed with social and communication skills, especially if they were very intelligent and persuasive. There were even times when I felt inferior to them.

Things changed for the better after I became a Christian, entered into a heart relationship with Jesus and eventually got in touch with my feelings. I know now that when I speak or write something from the heart and it is within my experience, there is generally no problem.

I am still aware of a slight weakness in this area, so try to avoid competing with people on unfamiliar ground and stick to what I am sure of before God. This can be challenging when we are putting our whole trust in Jesus, especially if it concerns something very important and we appear to be flying in the face of reason. We open ourselves to being thought foolish and run the risk of being shaken off track by listening to the wrong voice. If in the end I am labelled foolish, then so long as I am being a 'fool for Christ,' it's of no consequence.

We all need wisdom, but true wisdom comes not from what we know, but from who we know. When we look to God for wisdom, the Holy Spirit will guide us and reveal what we need to know. We certainly need to be open to learn from anyone, but we need to be discerning or we run the risk of being swayed from the right path.

"For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate. - - But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong." 1 Corinthians 1:19 and 27 New International Version

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