'Rejoice with those who rejoice...' (Romans 12:15)
There are various ways we can respond to the news that a friend has gone into a relationship.
We can become all self-pitying and bitter, wondering 'Why them and not me?' We can roll our eyes whenever we see a 'couple-y' picture on social media.
OR.
We can be thankful that our friends are happy.
We can be thankful that God has sovereignly worked to bring two people together into a relationship. A relationship that could turn into a marriage that was designed to reflect our own relationship with Christ.
And that's the greatest reason why we can be thankful.
Because we're in a relationship too - with the One who is eternal, who died for us, whose love is never ending.
When we have Christ, we have all we need. Earthly relationships cannot compare. (Although God in His generosity sometimes gives them to us anyway).
Thank you God that we have the HUGE privilege of being in a loving relationship with You, the holy, magnificent God who made galaxies and cells!
Thank you for the times You bless us with earthly relationships too.
You are good!
Monday 28 September 2015
163 - Confetti
Well...it's pretty, isn't it?
It's colourful.
It's tradition to throw it at weddings. I always like being able to tell that a wedding has taken place just by seeing all the leftover confetti on the ground.
We can be thankful for the smallest things. Even that someone had the idea 'Oh, let's cut tiny pieces of coloured paper and throw it at people!'
Thank you God for confetti.
Wednesday 23 September 2015
162 - The ability to read
'...devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture...' (1 Timothy 4:13)
If you ask my family, or my friends, what my favourite past-time is, there's a good chance they'll say 'Reading!'
Yes, I have a mild obsession with books. Nothing to be ashamed of.
But...I read so much, I take it for granted. I forget everything that had to happen for me to be able to read.
God gave me a brain which can translate the shapes on a page into a language I can understand. He gave me eyes that can see the words.
He put me in a country where an education is readily available for someone like me.
He gave me two wonderful parents who took the time to sit down and teach me how to read.
He gave humans the resources and knowledge of how to turn trees into books.
But, best of all, He gave me the ability to read HIS word. The Bible. The book which contains the message of eternal life. The book which helps me live in a relationship with the awesome God.
Thank you so much Lord, for giving me the ability to read!
If you ask my family, or my friends, what my favourite past-time is, there's a good chance they'll say 'Reading!'
Yes, I have a mild obsession with books. Nothing to be ashamed of.
But...I read so much, I take it for granted. I forget everything that had to happen for me to be able to read.
God gave me a brain which can translate the shapes on a page into a language I can understand. He gave me eyes that can see the words.
He gave me two wonderful parents who took the time to sit down and teach me how to read.
He gave humans the resources and knowledge of how to turn trees into books.
But, best of all, He gave me the ability to read HIS word. The Bible. The book which contains the message of eternal life. The book which helps me live in a relationship with the awesome God.
Thank you so much Lord, for giving me the ability to read!
Thursday 17 September 2015
161 - Christ's humanity
'For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.' (Hebrews 4:15)
Do I truly believe this verse?
Sometimes we can feel so despairing of our sin - like no matter how hard we try, we just keep on messing up. Like God sits up there in Heaven, distant and judging.
But this verse...this wonderful verse...
He was tempted in every respect as we are.
Did His unbelieving brothers and the Pharisees tempt him to unrighteous anger?
Did His disciples tempt him to irritation?
Was He tempted to worry about his mother?
What about other sins, ones we might never think of tempting the Christ?
Was He ever tempted to go after earthly love? Was He ever lonely for an earthly companion?
Was He tempted to self-pity as He faced the grim future of the cross? Did doubt try and attack His mind?
I don't know. I only have this verse to go by.
The point is...He knows.
He felt the battering of sin just as we do.
And yet...He never gave in.
'That's all very well', you might say. 'He was God!'
Well, yeah...But He was also fully Man.
And...since Pentecost, who do we have living inside us?
The Holy Spirit. God. He gives us the power to resist sin.
We don't always listen. But each day is a small step of progress. One day, we will be like Him. Sinless.
Until then, He doesn't condemn us for our mistakes. He empathises with our struggle against sin.
'He knows our frame, He remembers we are dust.' (Psalm 103:14) He lived in that frame, after all, for 33 years.
And we can be thankful for our God who loves and knows us so intimately.
Do I truly believe this verse?
Sometimes we can feel so despairing of our sin - like no matter how hard we try, we just keep on messing up. Like God sits up there in Heaven, distant and judging.
But this verse...this wonderful verse...
He was tempted in every respect as we are.
Did His unbelieving brothers and the Pharisees tempt him to unrighteous anger?
Did His disciples tempt him to irritation?
Was He tempted to worry about his mother?
What about other sins, ones we might never think of tempting the Christ?
Was He ever tempted to go after earthly love? Was He ever lonely for an earthly companion?
Was He tempted to self-pity as He faced the grim future of the cross? Did doubt try and attack His mind?
I don't know. I only have this verse to go by.
The point is...He knows.
He felt the battering of sin just as we do.
And yet...He never gave in.
'That's all very well', you might say. 'He was God!'
Well, yeah...But He was also fully Man.
And...since Pentecost, who do we have living inside us?
The Holy Spirit. God. He gives us the power to resist sin.
We don't always listen. But each day is a small step of progress. One day, we will be like Him. Sinless.
Until then, He doesn't condemn us for our mistakes. He empathises with our struggle against sin.
'He knows our frame, He remembers we are dust.' (Psalm 103:14) He lived in that frame, after all, for 33 years.
And we can be thankful for our God who loves and knows us so intimately.
160 - The love of the elderly
'They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green' (Psalm 92:14)
In our society today, divorces and singleness are pretty common.
Maybe that's why I love seeing elderly couples together, walking down the street, hand-in-hand.
It's a reminder God built love and marriage to last...and it can last. Despite everything.
Sometimes there are sad reasons why a marriage can't survive until old age. Death, unfaithfulness, lack of commitment...
But even if we're single, or widowed, or divorced - I think we can still look at an old couple together, watch him kiss her on her wrinkled cheek...and be thankful for them.
In our society today, divorces and singleness are pretty common.
Maybe that's why I love seeing elderly couples together, walking down the street, hand-in-hand.
It's a reminder God built love and marriage to last...and it can last. Despite everything.
Sometimes there are sad reasons why a marriage can't survive until old age. Death, unfaithfulness, lack of commitment...
But even if we're single, or widowed, or divorced - I think we can still look at an old couple together, watch him kiss her on her wrinkled cheek...and be thankful for them.
Friday 4 September 2015
159 - Feeling like you were missed
'...his father...ran and embraced him and kissed him.' (Luke 15:20)
I think every human has the desire within them to be loved, to be needed, to be missed.
And the times we're reminded that we are become precious to us.
For example, a few months ago, I went away for a week. When I returned, my family hugged me and told me that I was missed. And it didn't feel like empty words - I could feel they were true. (Partly because my sisters grabbed me and told me they were never letting go again.)
Another example - I volunteer in a charity shop and I have to take every summer off because of other commitments.
Yesterday, I went back again. One lady told me I was missed. They asked loads of questions about my summer and made jokes about how long I'd be gone. It was really nice.
But all this is paled into insignificance when we think of the reception we shall get from our heavenly Father when we join Him there. We were always meant to be by His side, and it is only by Jesus that we can return to Him.
Think of His smiles, His hugs, His joy. We shall wonder why we ever left!
And be thankful for His love, as He speaks the words 'Welcome home.'
I think every human has the desire within them to be loved, to be needed, to be missed.
And the times we're reminded that we are become precious to us.
For example, a few months ago, I went away for a week. When I returned, my family hugged me and told me that I was missed. And it didn't feel like empty words - I could feel they were true. (Partly because my sisters grabbed me and told me they were never letting go again.)
Another example - I volunteer in a charity shop and I have to take every summer off because of other commitments.
Yesterday, I went back again. One lady told me I was missed. They asked loads of questions about my summer and made jokes about how long I'd be gone. It was really nice.
But all this is paled into insignificance when we think of the reception we shall get from our heavenly Father when we join Him there. We were always meant to be by His side, and it is only by Jesus that we can return to Him.
Think of His smiles, His hugs, His joy. We shall wonder why we ever left!
And be thankful for His love, as He speaks the words 'Welcome home.'
Thursday 3 September 2015
158 - Our healing system
'...who heals all your diseases...' (Psalm 103:3)
When I read this verse, I tend to assume it's talking about miraculous healing.
But then I read Nicky Gumbel's notes on it, and he reminded me that actually, God has provided other means of healing.
He gave us antibodies, white blood cells, the immune system, platelets and so on.
Our body is a remarkable piece of creation and the healing system is just a part of it.
So, next time we get cut, or something, we can clean it and cover it and know that our body's healing system is already at work. Fighting off germs and mending the wound.
And we can be thankful!
When I read this verse, I tend to assume it's talking about miraculous healing.
But then I read Nicky Gumbel's notes on it, and he reminded me that actually, God has provided other means of healing.
He gave us antibodies, white blood cells, the immune system, platelets and so on.
Our body is a remarkable piece of creation and the healing system is just a part of it.
So, next time we get cut, or something, we can clean it and cover it and know that our body's healing system is already at work. Fighting off germs and mending the wound.
And we can be thankful!
157 - Compliments
'...a good word makes him glad.' (Proverbs 12:25)
Compliments are nice, aren't they?
They don't have to be much, but a few well-chosen words can put a smile on your face.
'You look pretty.'
'That top looks good on you.'
(They don't all have to be appearance related.)
'You're good at that.'
'That was kind of you.'
When people compliment us, we should be thankful for them and their thoughtfulness.
We can think about how we can compliment others.
And we can remember the words of the Bible. The words that the Lord addresses to us, His people - words that are so, so much better than compliments.
'...I have called you friends...'(John 15:15).
'...you are no longer a slave but a son...'(Galatians 4:7)
'...his treasured possession...' (Deuteronomy 7:6)
Even when people don't compliment you, even when you're feeling down (especially when you're feeling down!) we can pick up the Bible and see what God says to us.
And seeing His love for us is something to be very thankful for.
Compliments are nice, aren't they?
They don't have to be much, but a few well-chosen words can put a smile on your face.
'You look pretty.'
'That top looks good on you.'
(They don't all have to be appearance related.)
'You're good at that.'
'That was kind of you.'
When people compliment us, we should be thankful for them and their thoughtfulness.
We can think about how we can compliment others.
And we can remember the words of the Bible. The words that the Lord addresses to us, His people - words that are so, so much better than compliments.
'...I have called you friends...'(John 15:15).
'...you are no longer a slave but a son...'(Galatians 4:7)
'...his treasured possession...' (Deuteronomy 7:6)
Even when people don't compliment you, even when you're feeling down (especially when you're feeling down!) we can pick up the Bible and see what God says to us.
And seeing His love for us is something to be very thankful for.
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