188 - A Cup of Tea

OK, so I know not everyone likes tea. I've only been drinking it for just over a year.

But writing personally, I am thankful for the invention of a nice cup of tea.

It warms you up on the inside and the outside. (And I get cold really easily so this is extra appreciated.)

It wakes you up when you're tired. (Especially good when you're on an early shift)

And yes - I dunk my biscuits!

Thank you God for the simple pleasures - like a cup of tea.

187 - The Bread of Life.

They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst." (John 6:34-35)

I have to confess I am borrowing a lot of today's post of today's reading on the She Reads Truth website.

And the point I take from it is this -we can be thankful we have the Bread of Life that last forever and is all we need.

Andrea Lucado points out that just like the crowd in the Bible, we demand 'bread' from Jesus - temporary things that we think will satisfy us. To them, it's food. To us it's money, a job, relationships, possessions...

And we never stop to think that we're asking this from Jesus. Jesus. Who provides all our needs. Who loves us more than any other. Who died so we could live.

Earthly bread goes stale and mouldy. Our 'bread', our idols...they're spent. Lost. Ended. Broken. We get fired. Let down. Hurt. Disappointed.

Jesus will never do that. He will never die. He will never break His word. He will never, ever stop loving us.

Put all your needs and cares in His hands.

And be thankful that you have the most precious gift in the world - the Bread of Life!

186 - Peace

'Now the God of peace be with you all.' (Romans 15:33)

I haven't written in here for a loooong time.

As most of you reading this probably know, I recently lost my brother.

You can't imagine loss till you go through it. Even now, grief is hard to describe. The shock, the tears, the empty hollow feeling that stays with you day after day...

And yet..

Through it all, we can testify that God has shown His goodness to us in many ways.

One of those ways is peace and certainty.

Peace that He is in control.

That He knows best.

That we will see my brother again in Heaven.

That Death is not the end - because the Prince of Peace shed His blood for us.

Thank you God for peace in the storms.

185 - Being able to help others in trials.

'...weep with those who weep...' (Romans 12:15)

Suffering is not pleasant - to put it mildly. It was never intended to be part of life.

But God, sovereign, marvellous, amazing, whose ways are higher than ours, is able to take our sufferings and use them for good. 

So that the man who overspent and got into debt when he was young could advise his son later in life and stop him from making the same mistake. 

So that the mother who lost her child could comfort her friend who just suffered a miscarriage.

There are other ways He can use trials for good, but being able to help others is just one of them. 

I've personally experienced this and it doesn't take away the pain of suffering... but it helps. 

Thank you God for the times we can help and empathise with others. 

184 - Saying sorry first

'So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.' (Matt 5:23-24)

Arguments are horrible, and they can leave both sides feeling angry, bitter...and self-righteous. Both feel they're in the right and that it was all the other person's fault.

I speak from experience of course. I'm sad to say I've often been that proud person.

But what is amazing is when the Holy Spirit reaches past that coldness and touches your heart. When He shows you that it takes two to fight. That even if the other person might have started it, you carried it on.

You're both guilty. But God made sure you could both be forgiven.

We can be thankful when the Holy Spirit reminds us of this truth. And thankful when He gives us the power to do one of the hardest things - say sorry first. Swallowing our pride, going out to seek that person, apologising (genuinely, not just a "Sorry if I made you angry...") and not being sure how they'll react. Not everyone says "I'm sorry too" or "That's OK."

But we can be thankful to God that, either way, He helped us do the right thing.

And that He always forgives, even if humans don't.

183 - Daily grace.

'...His mercies...are new every morning...' (Lamentations 3: 22-23)

A few weeks ago I was rather morbidly reflecting on how I could pinpoint some of the ways I messed up as a Christian, day by day. 

On the Sunday, I was jealous. 

On the Monday, I was bitter and angry with someone.

On the Tuesday, I was a coward and lost a chance to get to know someone better at work. 

BUT...

God does not look at my failures. He looks back about 2000 years to the day His Son bled on a cross. 

Hear Him whisper:

'This drop of blood is for her jealousy...this for her bitterness...this for her fear...'

He died for each sin before I was even born. I can be forgiven the second after I mess up. 

Thank goodness it doesn't depend on me!

Thank you God that your grace never runs out. Thank you that my sin can never exceed your forgiveness. Thank you for mercies anew!

182 - The paradoxes of Christ

'...For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.' (Colossians  1: 19-20)

Consider Christ.

We couldn't have made Him up.

Man and God.

King of the Universe, born in a manager among animals.

He who walked among the angels kept company with tax collectors, sinners and a bunch of fishermen who must've been some of the most irritating men in Galilee

He fed 5000 people with a few loaves and fish, yet He refused the temptation to turn rocks into bread.

He held little children in His arms and chased grown men out the temple with a whip.

A King who came not to be served, but to serve.

He could command legions of angels - and yet He died at the hands of men.

He died and lives.

Merciful, He gives men the chance to repent - and one day He will be a stern Judge on those who refuse.

Thank you God for Jesus Christ, your son. Thank you for our King beyond imagination!