Why didn't you do something?

Yesterday in the news we heard of Prince Charles's concerns about the environment and the future of our planet and said that he wouldn't like to hear his grandchildren ask him 'If you knew about this, why didn't you do something?' That stuck with me.

I, like many, are concerned at this time about the Racial and Religious Hatred Bill that the government is determined to make law. Recent news is that the House of Lords has rejected it as it stands and have made a number of amendments but the Home Office have said that they will not accept these amendments. It's just that sensing the possible outcome if this bill were to be made law, I would hate the future generations to look at me and ask 'Why didn't you do something?' For further information see www.christianconcernforournation.co.uk.

If the bill does becomes law then our freedom to express that Jesus is the ONLY way to God will be curtailed and there will be persecution if we try to defend our christian beliefs in public or try to evangelise. Some might think that this is a way of the Church being re-defined and that through persecution the real Body of Christ will come out of this. I just feel that I need to pray that God will be in control of this situation according to His will for our nation. That this nation will find and live out her God-given destiny in the world.

I discovered the following while reading a church magazine today. Thought I would share it.

Disturb us, O Lord, when
We are too pleased with ourselves;
When our dreams have come true,
Because we dreamed too little.
We arrived safely,
Because we sailed too close to the shore.
Disturb us, O Lord, when
With the abundance of things we possess,
We have lost our thirst
For the waters of life;
Having fallen in love with life,
We have ceased to dream of eternity
And in our efforts to build a new earth,
We have allowed our vision
Of the new Heaven to dim.
Disturb us, O Lord, to dare more boldly,
To venture on wilder seas
Where storms will show your mastery;
Where losing sight of land,
We shall find the stars.
We ask you to push back
The horizons of our hopes;
And to push us into the future
In strength, courage, hope and love.
We ask in the name of our Captain,
Who is Jesus.

Attributed to Sir Francis Drake, 1577

Mercy

I have been thinking a lot lately about God's mercy. He is so patient and merciful. As humans we are patient up to a point but when we tell someone the same thing over and over again, there comes a moment when we say, 'That's it. I'm not going to bother any more. What's the point, they don't listen anyway.' Yet God always seems to give us another chance, just in case this time we do listen.

Today we had friends for lunch and the conversation was about many who had left congregating with a set group of people in a set building but met God in other ways. We were commenting how many of them had tried to challenge the leadership on issues and practices within the church system and in the end felt that they had to leave so that they could explore other ways for themselves. It seemed that nothing would change the minds of those in 'authority' within the church set-up. The thing is that we realised as we were talking that just as one group of people left, another group seemed to take their place in challenging decisions made. Again the comment was that God is so merciful He never gives up on the chance that maybe this time they will listen to what He is saying to the churches.

This morning I read again something that I had read a few weeks ago:
Judgment + Love = Mercy, Patience and Forgiveness

We deserve His judgement but because He loves us what we do receive is mercy, patience and forgiveness. What a wonderful God!

His vision. Whose plans?

I was at a church meeting last evening and much of the conversation was about plans and objectives. Someone quoted the following from Rick Love:

Where there is no vision the people perish.
Where there is no plan, the vision perishes.
Where there are no resources, the plan perishes.

The first line is biblical - from the book of Proverbs (ch 29:18) but then the other two lines are added which are not in the Bible. To me it just seemed that we so often take God's vision and then apply OUR plans. We take the vision from Him, 'Thank you very much God for that lovely vision you gave us' and then do what we want with it.

He is in control

Recently our town football team has acquired footballers from South America. One of them speaks very little English. Someone who knows that I lived in Argentina for 10 years, phoned me a couple of weeks ago and asked me if I would be willing to help out. You know when you feel obliged to do something but at the same time have a sense of unease about it? - well that's how I felt. I agreed but then sort of hoped it would never happen. It wasn't the helping out that was a problem, it was more the sense of commitment that I wasn't happy with. I just sensed somehow that it wasn't something I should be taking on. So I said 'sorry' to God for agreeing to something I wasn't sure I should be doing and asked Him to please work things out for me. Today I received a phone call saying that my willingness to help was much appreciated but other arrangements for English lessons had been made with the local college. I know I shouldn't be, but I'm always amazed how God just seems to change situations.

New Caledonia, Longleat and the PC

On Saturday the four of us going to New Caledonia in April met up at the travel agent and after MUCH deliberation (3 hours, in fact)we eventually decided on the best dates, times and routes. As it is a flight-only journey it had to be paid for in total there and then and is non-refundable. There is no going back now. We all left feeling quite excited and looking forward to it. We will be meeting regularly to pray between now and April. Your prayers on our behalf will be most welcome.

Yesterday, Sunday was spent with friends looking around the huge Longleat estate. This trip was to see the things we missed the last time we were there - there is so much to see. The weather was really good for this time of year and it was good to catch up in person rather than by emails or blogs.

Since going on Broadband, I've been trying to get a wireless network set up so that I can use the PC while others in the house can play games online. We bought all the necessary equipment and as I couldn't figure out how to set it up, got a friend who does to come and do it for us. It seems that something was not set up correctly as we still cannot get the network up and running. I'm sure we'll get there in the end. Seems strange how a click or a digit in the wrong place can make all the difference and can be very frustrating. Couldn't help thinking this morning that God must feel a bit like that when He thought that His Church would do a job but it hasn't turned out the way He wanted!

Confirmation, yet again!

My life at the moment is in a time of transition. I have felt God moving me on to do something completely different - to be involved with prayer teams travelling to different places to stand with and support people wherever God happens to send me. That means giving up the part time job I have at a charity shop, and as someone who is retired, the extra cash always comes in useful. You know with your mind that God is in control and has got everything planned but in your heart you can't help wondering just how this is going to work out in practice.

I am one of a group of four who are going to New Caledonia next April on just such a prayer mission and this Saturday we are meeting up at the travel agency to book and pay for our flight. I wasn't really concerned about the finances. I know God will provide and had already received prophetic words about this but what I still kept wondering was if I am really hearing God's voice telling me to do this or is this just something I quite fancy being part of. A couple of days ago I received a phone call from a couple who told me that God had told them to give me a (quite substantial) amount of money towards my flight - over 50% of the cost! After the initial shock I found myself saying to God 'You really DO want me to do this, don't You?' and I sensed God replying 'Yes, now just go and get on with it. How much more confirmation do you need?' I repented of keep asking for yet another form of confirmation and was grateful once again of His gracious patience with my doubting mind. Isn't He just awesome!