Recently, when passing on Christian tracts for outreach work, I was impressed by the differing reactions of believers and non- believers to God”s Word. There were many boxes to be moved and with some people, I could sense that they thought this a lot of work. There are actually even believers who do not see the effectiveness of putting a piece of God”s Word into someone else”s hand and giving them the opportunity to read it for themselves. These people seem to think god only speaks through the personal witness of a believer. True, He does speak that way and we are often the Bible the world will read and look to for direction to God.

The reaction of others was that they could not wait to hand the portions of God”s Word out to their friends. They were stuffing handfuls into pockets and handbags ready to give out and praising God they now had this opportunity. One lady was even giving them out before she left us. These are the people who are longing to share the Word with others, who realize that god gave His Word to us and in it is the power to save. God”s Word is His Inspired Word and leads people to Himself and to make their eternal destiny sure.

The unsaved who were receiving the tracts and booklets were not English speaking and they were very keen to get the literature. They are keen to know about this God, some from an intellectual point of view and others from the realization of a spiritual need. Whatever the reason god can work through His word and when human voice is silent He can bring the remembrance to the hearts of the hungry and lead them to Himself. We were thanked so much by believers and unsaved alike for bringing them God”s Word and it is a humbling feeling to be thanked for doing something so elementary for folks. We were not providing them with food, clothing or money and all of these things are greatly needed, but with God”s Word and yet you would have thought we had brought them bread. What a privilege to bring the Bread of Life to those who need it!

I wonder how much we appreciate all the books we have to help us in our Christian lives. Not just the Bible, but all the commentaries, dictionaries and other books explaining the Word to us. After David preached last Saturday, one lady who has been a believer for many years, asked him if the information he passed on was inspired upon him or were there actually books to help in study of the Bible. She is an ardent witness for the Lord but has never in her life seen a Bible commentary as there are none available in her language. Let us appreciate the guidebook He has given for our lives.

How often do I ask God to help me or do something for me and then worry that He won”t, or that the answer may not be what I want? If we did that with our earthly relationships the people involved would not have the impression we were putting a lot of trust in them. Yet they are human, and people will let us down at times. But God! He has never let us down and never will! Matthew 7:11 says, “How much more will your Father who is in Heaven, give good things to those who ask Him.” Let us ask in faith and believe He will answer.

As we intercede for others, who are ill, traveling, fearful, or in some other way needy, do we truly believe he will heal, protect and support. He has promised and He will do it. The Holy Spirit can give us the assurance that our prayers have reached the throne. He can give us the “peace that passes understanding” and then we can leave the burdens with the Lord.

This gets especially difficult as we remember to intercede for the unsaved members of our family, whom we have prayed years for, and those whom we see no change in. If we remember that it is not His Will that any should perish, but that all some to a saving knowledge of Himself, we will realize that He is working on our relatives in answer to our prayers. None of our prayers are wasted and none of our tears shed without notice, but oftentimes we run out of patience waiting on His perfect timing.

He has promised that, “Before you call, I will answer,” so we need to rest in the fact that He has already the answer on the way and be patient to wait for it.

I Thessalonians 5:17, says, “Pray without ceasing.” He wants us to pray and talk to Him and has promised to answer, so what would hinder us. With the Psalmist in Psalm 37:5 we can, “Commit your way unto the Lord and He will bring it to pass.” If God is the greatest factor in our prayers, we will pray for the things He lays on our hearts and will know with assurance that He has answered in the best possible way.

Today David went to help an old man with a job he needed done in his house. Afterward the old man said, “You have no idea how special it is for me to know when I call you, you will come and sort out the problem.” ¬†He believed David would help him and do what was needed. Let us in simple faith trust the Lord to answer our prayers and intercessions.

During this past week, all our boys and their families have been traveling on vacation in the US, therefore were pretty much out of contact by email or other means. Since our boys all live in the US and we don”t often have direct contact, you would think it would make little difference to us where exactly they were in the US. We were just as busy as usual, yet for both of us the lack of that email or instant message contact left a gaping hole in our lives this past week. I don”t grudge them their holidays, they all need and deserve them, but it was strange to us to feel this way.

At first, I thought it was concern for their safety I was feeling, as they traveled so many miles on the road, but as I left each one with the Lord daily, I finally realized it was the contact we were missing. Naturally, this got me thinking!

How often do we do exactly that with God? We go on “vacation” so to speak, in our relationship with Him. Times, when we decide it is not necessary to talk and spend time with Him. Things are going well, He knows where I am and all about me, so we don”t communicate. We do not have Fellowship with Him, “cos we do not need anything in particular.

I wonder, would I have missed the emails etc from our boys if they had only previously contacted me when they had needs or wanted something from me? Probably not! I would have been thankful for the break! Likewise, if I only ever come to God with my list of needs and desires (even if these are all legitimate), that is not fellowship with God. He wants us to share our day with Him, the good and the rough.

Man was created for fellowship and each of us are set in families to continue that process. But so often we deny the Lord that fellowship with us. I know He misses, talking and sharing with us when we are on “vacation” for whatever reason. Is it not a wonderful thought that the God of the Universe, would actually miss having a conversation with me? But it is also a saddening thought when I think of how often I forget that or do not take the time.

He also wants us to listen to what He has to tell us that we can know more about Him and enjoy each other even more. The Shorter Catechism says, “Man”s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him for ever.” We are made in His image, and amazing though it may seem, He also gets enjoyment from being with us and in doing so we glorify Him.

Everyone is home now, having had an enjoyable, restful time and back into everyday life. Emailing etc has resumed, but I trust I remember the lesson of this past week and fellowship with my Saviour regularly.

God gives us a vision, a dream and we think this is it – now we just need to get going on it. But it is not often like that! He sometimes has to shape us to fit the vision and to make us usable for the fulfillment of that vision. Some of that shaping is not easy and requires above all else – patience. Holding on like grim death to the vision He gave us, in spite of every circumstance which seems to oppose the vision we have. If it is a God-given vision, it will be fulfilled. If it is not we have this opportunity to find out as it crumbles under the difficulties.

Why then does He give us the vision before getting us ready to experience it fulfilled? Wouldn”t it be less painful to be prepared and then to have the vision? Not so! As I see it, sometimes, if I did not have the vision, I would be hanging on by the skin of my teeth through the hard times. Sometimes, when things are just not happening, we need the vision to hang on tightly to or we would just give up!

Maybe also we need to learn, that it is His work. He does not need us to do it, He chose us to do it. He gave us the vision, true, but so we can see His Kingdom extended and the Father glorified.

“Where there is no vision, the people perish.” We need the vision to keep us close to Him. The people He wants us to reach need us to hang onto that vision, as we go out to bring them the Gospel by whatever means.

Keep the vision ever before you, Keep short accounts with God and keep close to Him through it all and He will bring it to pass.

..‘Whoever does not forsake all that he has cannot be my disciple’ Luke 14:33

The cost seems too great doesn’t it? How often do feel that way? Ok you say, I don’t mind giving up some things, but everything that I have that is a tall order.

Of course, when we think of what Jesus gave up for us and remind ourselves that He did it freely, it may help us see our needs, rights and all we have pale into insignificance and for at least a moment. But it doesn’t take too long before we are claiming everything back.

I really believe this is a work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, to give us greater devotion to the Lord, causing us to be willing to give Him our all. I know for sure I could not do it, nor would I even want to without His strength.

Taking a long hard look at what I do have, I realise, that which is precious to me was given to me anyway by the Lord Himself. Therefore, what better place to be and what more could I wish for than that the King of Heaven takes care of every person and everything who matter to me. He takes the best care of all that we entrust to Him, so why are we still so reluctant to give him our all?

Noel Grant, an Irish Evangelist, wrote the words of this poem,

‘Go through with God, your vows to pay, Your all upon the altar lay.¬†¬† The Holy Ghost will do the rest, and bring to you God’s very Best’

How true! Everything we entrust Him with is so much better off than if we held onto it tightly ourselves.  As we are willing to open up and let go, it also means we are released from the burdens of worry and concern over our possessions, friends and relations. He cares for the sparrows, and He can do it without our help, although as we are willing to hand over the reigns, He may even allow us to participate in directing the cause, but with him as Head.

May each one of us be ready and willing to yield and let us see the impact our submission will have on the unbelieving world around us.  It seldom happens at once and so often we give then take back. It is a continual process, a step at a time for most of us until we meet Him.

Another busy week on the house but the outside plastering is complete and we are very glad about that. Amazing, all the ideas of what you will do or feel you should be doing when you are working at something like this, and yet amazingly, when it is finished you feel a bit disorientated and don’t quite know what to do next. I find it strange every time workers leave, to cook again for only the two of us and take a while to adjust to the next task ahead.

Still it is getting there slowly, and as long as we keep the goal ahead of us and realize the people who can learn about the Bible, and experience a relationship with Jesus through this project, it goes fine and in His time.

I often fret about time, wondering if I am using it in the best possible way! For instance, when I finish a team project and then try to decide what is the next priority, but God’s plans and time schedules are often not ours. He sees the tasks that take so long as opportunities to get to know neighbours, to connect with needy souls, when I so often want it done!

He also wants us to have some downtime, to reflect, to recuperate and recharge batteries. But so often we have a million things more important to us. It is good to learn to rest in Him, listen to His voice and get things done in his Perfect time. His Grace is for every situation but we need to take time to draw on His Power for the days ahead! Not only for ourselves, but there are others out in the battle relying on our prayer, we need to take the time for that. There are family and friends not in the kingdom and we must make them also serious matters for prayer as this precious time is short!

Enjoy the weekend and keep close to Jesus! ‘Redeeming the Time because the days are evil.’ Ephesians 5:16

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