Daniel 6:26-28, CJB
King Daryavesh wrote all the peoples, nations and languages living anywhere on earth: “Shalom rav! [Abundant peace!]  “I herewith issue a decree that everywhere in my kingdom, people are to tremble and be in awe of the God of Dani’el. “For he is the living God; he endures forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed; his rulership will last till the end. He saves, rescues, does signs and wonders both in heaven and on earth. He delivered Dani’el from the power of the lions.”

We're starting a new series this month looking at some of the promises of God. I'm so grateful the Father has made enduing promises that help us build our lives on his faithfulness. Today we look at his promise of a forever home.

We re-homed a dog some two years ago and in doing that became the owners (also servants!) of not one, not two, but three Newfies. Bonkers! The newest was a nine month old little girl who came from a family who just couldn’t keep her. So we gave her a forever home.

And these verses remind me that God is able to give us a forever home. When he rescues and saves us it is so we can spend eternity with him - the living God who endures forever, whose Kingdom will never be destroyed. And he also makes us into a sign and wonder to the world as he consistently delivers us. 

But unlike the people King Daryavesh writes to, we don’t have to tremble before the Lord. We get to call him Father. What a privilege. We have been rescued, saved, and given a forever home by the one who loves us most.  

What an amazing God we have!

Until next time.

L x

Psalm 133:1, NIV
How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!

Thank you for the feedback on the last series. Interestingly, most of the comments focused on friendship so I'm going to spend a little more time talking about relationships here.

The bible is full of examples that reveal how much loving relationships matter to God. James tells us that Abraham was God’s friend  and it is through his friend that God establishes a nation for himself. In Exodus  we read that God spoke with Moses face to face as one speaks to a friend. The Psalmist tells us God is so concerned for our social well-being that he sets the lonely in families and, of course, he also establishes the church as a community built around a common purpose whose hallmark is love. Throughout the New Testament we are urged to form authentic, loving relationships by meeting together because God knows that being in community allows us to spur one another on to love and good deeds  and to release each other to minister out of a place of security and accountability.

God tells us we are our best selves when we experience life with other believers because we are one body and belong in fellowship.  We look most like Jesus when we’re united  and the Holy Spirit is present when we’re together.  For the early church the outcome of being together was that the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.  (Which, incidentally, raises a question for churches that aren’t growing or are in decline. Could it be because we are not ‘together’ in a way that displays the love of God to others?)

Yet even though God is committed to loving relationship and wants us to be too, research tells us we can only be friends with a limited number of people. With a finite number of relationships we can cope with, it stands to reason we need to be more aware of God’s purpose for our friendships and more intentional about the way we develop and maintain them. I believe we need to find out in this season who it is he wants us to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with[1], who he wants us to build with[2], who he knows will strengthen and encourage us, who he knows will add to our ministry, and whose ministry he knows we will add to. 

Why not ask God to be involved in and integral to your friendships this week?

Until next time.

L x

[1] Zephaniah 3:9

[2] Exodus 36:1

Romans 12:10, NIV
Be devoted to one another in love. Honour one another above yourselves.

I hope you enjoyed the Lent devotions. It was great to write them. Now the blog is back and we're looking at the last of the values I think matter to Jesus so should matter to us. This month - friendship.

The various Covid lockdowns in the UK gave me an opportunity to spend time in the garden and I cleared and replanted an overgrown area. Then, I placed a bench under an old apple tree, put up some bunting, and imagined the day my friends and I would talk and eat there.

All this time later, we still have catching up and cake eating to do. And as we do it, we should think about Jesus’ divinely inspired model of friendship. Jesus asks the Father for guidance on who his closest friends should be and, as a result, his friendships are genuine, deep, diverse, and purposeful. He is also inclusive. Remember the rich young ruler? Jesus invites him into his close circle; a circle already established but that can embrace new people.

We don’t have time today to look at John, Peter, James, Susanna, Joanna, the Marys, Lazarus, Martha and others... But, all of Jesus’ friendships are integral to the purposes of God. I’m taking time now to ask God who my friends should be, how I can open my circle to others, and how I can make my relationships serve his purposes. 

There is always a crowd; always onlookers. People who watch our lives. We may not know it but who we are can speak louder than what we say. Our values have a voice even when we’re silent.

And we can use them to point others to Jesus.The crowd watching us sees that our friendships with each other are inclusive and purposeful because we are friends of God. And that points to Jesus.

Until next time.

L x

Luke 6:38 NIV
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap...

There is always a crowd. There are always onlookers. People who watch our lives. We may not know it but who we are can speak louder than what we say. Our values have a voice even when we’re silent.

Jesus knew this. He was always aware of the crowd. He ministered to the person in front of him, but he knew there were onlookers. And he lived and gave voice to the values of the Kingdom so everyone could understand more about the Father, more about themselves, and more about Jesus’ own purpose.

And I think if something matters to Jesus, it should matter to us, too. So I’ve identified five values Jesus shares with the crowd. This month - generosity.

Whenever there is a school holiday there are children who go hungry. These are the children who receive free school meals. No school, no meal. Our church decided we would intervene and give away free packed lunches, no questions asked, during every school holiday to anyone who needed them.

The last time we did this I posted on a Facebook group to let people know. Most responses were very positive. Except one. It said, “I hope no-one abuses it.” I didn’t reply because I didn’t think that would be helpful but I wanted to say “So what if they do? It’s a sandwich! It’s a gift. Giving without counting the cost is part of Kingdom living.”

I am not naïve; I know there are people who take advantage. But it strikes me Jesus spends a lot of his time with people just like that. From tax collectors to rich young princes, thieves to the entitled. And Jesus is not naïve; he knows the hearts of the people he deals with. Yet he gives himself anyway.

I suspect that’s why there is a promise linked to our giving. “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap..." Because sometimes what we give is taken for granted, people don’t get it, it costs us… But the crowd watching us sees our generosity. Not just in the giving of sandwiches, in the giving of ourselves. And that points to Jesus.

There are things can we do this month that may cost us but will point to Jesus. Why not ask him what they are?

Until next time.

L x

PS: I wrote a book on developing resilience. It's getting great reviews and you can buy it here. I'd love to know what you think.

Isaiah 1:17, ESV
Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.

There is always a crowd. There are always onlookers. People who watch our lives. We may not know it but who we are can speak louder than what we say. Our values have a voice even when we’re silent.

Jesus knew this. He was always aware of the crowd. He ministered to the person in front of him, but he knew there were onlookers. And he lived and gave voice to the values of the Kingdom so everyone could understand more about the Father, more about themselves, and more about Jesus’ own purpose. And I think if something matters to Jesus, it should matter to me, too. So we're looking at five values Jesus shares with the crowd. We have considered and inclusion, and today we look at justice. Justice matters to Jesus.

Jesus was critical of the religious leaders of his time because they consistently misrepresented God. They placed burdens on his children and neglected justice and mercy.

Injustice incenses Jesus and it should us. Just think about the incident of the woman found in adultery. She is the victim of a deep systemic injustice that judges her more harshly than the man who committed adultery with her. Jesus challenges the thinking that led to that discrimination and there is thinking behind injustice in our time we need to challenge, too.

This isn’t a political statement, it’s a faith statement. God shares his heart for justice all through the Bible (Amos, Micah, Isaiah, Jeremiah...) and calls his people to speak for those who have no voice. How each of us does that will depend on the focus God gives us, but we all have a role to play in speaking truth.

The crowd watches us and sees when we stand for what is right. And that points to Jesus.

Until next time

L x

PS: I wrote a book on developing resilience. It's getting great reviews and you can buy it here. I'd love to know what you think.

John 3:16, NIV
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

There is always a crowd. There are always onlookers. People who watch our lives. We may not know it but who we are can speak louder than what we say. Our values have a voice even when we’re silent.

Jesus knew this. He was always aware of the crowd. He ministered to the person in front of him, but he knew there were onlookers. And he lived and gave voice to the values of the Kingdom so everyone could understand more about the Father, more about themselves, and more about Jesus’ own purpose. And I think if something matters to Jesus, it should matter to me, too. So we're looking at five values Jesus shares with the crowd. We looked at love last time and today, inclusion.

No-one is excluded from God’s saving plan. 

I follow a nun on Twitter called Sister Helen Prejean. She takes the gospel to death row prisoners and at the same time works with the families of murder victims. She must be so full of grace and compassion. Sister Helen believes everyone deserves wise counsel, everyone needs forgiveness, and everyone should be offered the opportunity to embrace eternal life. Everyone. She challenges me.
But, Jesus challenges me more because one of the last things he does is pray for me and you. And he does it from the cross. Knowing we will live at least some of our lives far from him, dead in sin[1], enemies of the Father.[2] At the point at which Jesus experiences excruciating pain and suffering he prays for people who may never choose to embrace the salvation he offers.

The crowd around us is included in God’s saving plan. Lord help us not to be ashamed of the gospel of Christ.[3] Help us to be generous in who we share it with and point people to Jesus.

Until next time.

L x

[1] Colossians 2:13
[2] Colossians 1:21
[3] Romans 1:16 NKJV

Matthew 22:39, NIV
Love your neighbour as yourself

There is always a crowd. There are always onlookers. People who watch our lives. We may not know it but who we are can speak louder than what we say. Our values have a voice even when we’re silent.

Jesus knew this. He was always aware of the crowd. He ministered to the person in front of him, but he knew there were onlookers. And he lived and gave voice to the values of the Kingdom so everyone could understand more about the Father, more about themselves, and more about Jesus’ own purpose.

And I think if something matters to Jesus, it should matter to me, too. So I’ve identified five values Jesus shares with the crowd for us to look at over the next few months. Starting with love.

In Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus tells us the greatest commandments. He says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Jesus effectively says, ‘Everything that has been written to date has pointed to me. And now I am here. I am going to establish the Kingdom you’ve been longing for. And I’m going to do by hanging it on two commandments that have one thing in common. The Kingdom I’m establishing is going to hang on love.’ And, of course Jesus literally does that; he establishes the Kingdom by hanging on the cross out of love.

Which means we can’t partner effectively with Jesus unless we love. Which is a sobering thought because - I don’t know about you - but some days I have to dig really deep to find a little bit of love. Some days I run out of it altogether. But, the good news is because God is love [1] and his power is working in us [2] we have access to all the love we need. [3] We don’t have to love out of our own limited, human resources. We can love like Jesus because his love compels us. [4]

The crowd around us will see our love and our love will point to Jesus.

Until next time

L x

[1] 1 John 4:8

[2] Ephesians 3:20

[3] Ephesians 3:20

[4] 2 Corinthians 5:14

Hebrews 6:18-19, NLT
"...we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls."

Now here is an interesting thing. Hebrews is written in Greek and the Greek word for hope is elpizo which means to anticipate with pleasure and to welcome. The Hebrew definition of hope is very similar. In Hebrew the word is tikvah which means expectation but also extends to mean cord or rope because the root word for tikvah means to bind.

Which means ‘hope’ in this context is not a vague wish or longing. It’s much stronger than that. It’s not: “Oh, I hope everything will be all right.” No! It’s: “Oh, I anticipate, I expect that it will be well!” Hear the difference?

Now the Hebrew audience will most likely have known both Greek and Hebrew words - they were after all Jews living in a world in which Greek was the common language. So, imagine hearing this verse as one of the Hebrews:

The NLT says: “We hold to the hope that lies before us…” but the Hebrews’ understanding would have been nearer to “We are bound, tied to, roped to expectation. We can anticipate with pleasure.”  

The changed emphasis from “we hold” to “we are bound” would have been helpful to a people facing persecution. And it helps us, too - particularly if we’re facing challenges and feel like we just can’t keep going any longer. Because moving from “we hold” to “we are bound” reminds us exactly who it is who has done the anchoring - Jesus! It also means our capacity to hold on isn’t reliant on the strength of our grip; it is reliant on his.  

Our souls can be anchored in expectation because God has given us both his promise and his oath and Jesus has bound us to himself - for eternity.

Until next time

Lx

Proverbs 14:34, NIV
Righteousness exalts a nation.

When God puts something on your heart it’s because it’s on his, too. And right now, what’s on my heart is this verse - it’s not even a whole verse, it’s half a verse - from Proverbs 14:34: “Righteousness exalts a nation”.

And righteousness is a bit of Christian jargon, but a layman’s definition would be “right standing with God.”

Now we know we can’t achieve right standing with God on our own - we only become righteous by accepting what Jesus did for us on the cross. But right now, our nation needs to be aligned to the purposes of God and the only way it can do that is if it is influenced by people who know and love Jesus.

This is not a political statement, it is a faith statement because we have to believe we can bring about change in the hearts and minds of politicians, business owners, educators, health professionals, investors, inventors, scientists, mental health professionals, the media, even the Church by praying that people find Jesus. We want to see God put a new heart and a new spirit into the people of our nation.

So why don’t we pray for that? Let's step out in faith this month and decree and declare that God will position his people in places where they can bring his word. And that they will be bold and take every opportunity he provides.

Until next time.

L x

PS: I wrote a book on developing resilience. It's getting great reviews and you can buy it here. I'd love to know what you think.

Isaiah 9:6. NKJV
For unto us a son is born. Unto us a son is given. And the government shall be upon his shoulder. And his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.

Most of us have established Christmas traditions. One of mine is to listen to Handel’s Messiah on full blast while I decorate the house and cook for Christmas. And early in the oratorio there is a duet chorus called For Unto Us a Child is Born. The lyrics are taken straight from Isaiah 9:6 and the four names of Jesus are the crucial component. And it doesn’t matter how often I hear it sung I am amazed by the comprehensive nature of Jesus. He is the answer to every need we will ever have.

And in this season I suspect our particular need might be for peace - peace for now and for the future - and - let me tell you - this verse tells us Jesus is ‘sar shalom’ which means the Prince of prosperity, the giver of all blessing. We can draw deeply on the peace of Jesus in this season because our Wonderful Jesus is peace, has an unlimited store of peace, and wants us to share in his peace.

I love how the AMP translates Colossians 3:15 as Paul talks about peace.  "Let the peace of Christ [the inner calm of one who walks daily with Him] be the controlling factor in your hearts [deciding and settling questions that arise]. To this peace indeed you were called as members in one body [of believers]. And be thankful [to God always].

Thank God today for the peace that passes all understanding and the Saviour who has claimed it for you for eternity.

Until next time.

L x

PS: I wrote a book on developing resilience. It's getting great reviews and you can buy it here. I'd love to know what you think.