Author: Linda Beale

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God is clearing the way

If you are like me you are looking at the weather forecast wondering if we are in for snow.

Yesterday I was listening to a sermon on You tube which was talking about not to worry about the future because God was already there clearing a path for us.

As i reflected on this message I had a vision of God shovelling snow. That is the clearing of our future path of traps and things that will make us slip and fall so we can walk safely in the path he has planned for us. He is our waymaker.
I feel Psalm 121 reflects what I have written about the Lord is not going to let your foot slip as written in verse 3.
Verse 7 and 8 The Lord is watching over your life forever more. Keeping you from all harm.
Psalms 121
A song of ascents.
1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD watches over you— the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life;
8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

The world and the future can feel very scarey but have confidence that the Lord is making your path secure and safe.

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I’d rather have Jesus

This worship song has touched my heart recently. ‘I’d rather have Jesus”
Here are the lyrics
I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold
I’d rather be His than have riches untold
I’d rather have Jesus than houses or land
I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand
Than to be the king of a vast domain
And be held in sin’s dread sway
I’d rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today
I’d rather have Jesus than worldly applause
I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause
I’d rather have Jesus than worldwide fame
Yes, I’d rather be true to His holy name
Than to be the king of a vast domain
And be held in sin’s dread sway
I’d rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today

The riches and treasures of heaven far surpass anything that this world has to offer.
Knowing Jesus died for you, will never leave or forsake you, that he has clothed you in his robes of righteousness, he’s given you eternal life through his sacrifice on the cross, that he is my shepherd leading me and protecting me far outweighs any sights that dazzle in the world.
‘To be a king of a vast domain and be held in sins dread way” remind me of our king, politicians and those all over the world may have power but without Jesus to lead them they have empty lives and no eternity. We better pray ? for them.
This is a beautiful rendition of the hymn plus video has scenes from the Christian film the firing squad

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Renewal

A newly elected M.P today said that there would be a decade of renewal.

I immediately thought of the renewal God brings to us.

2 Corinthians 4:16. “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.

”2 Corinthians 5:17. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

I praise God that we can rely on him to renew us through the power of the Holy Spirit and his word. As it says in Romans it was whilst we were sinners that Christ died for us. We come with all our misdeeds and flaws but at that moment of accepting Jesus as our Lord and saviour we are born of the spirit. Its at this point that God embarks on updating us into someone better by filling us with his love so we will love others more.

We can read God’s word and be transformed by the renewing of our minds. We become a new creation when we abide in the vine who is Jesus and produce good fruit such as love, peace, Joy, patience.

We hope that a new government can fulfil the promises of their manesfiesto or we may hope they don’t. We wonder if they were telling the truth or wonder if they will let us down. Maybe they won’t win the next election and won’t be able to complete thier agenda but as Christians we know God will fulfil his promises.His word brings life, brings down evil having the victory over it, nothing is impossible for him and he never lies or changes his mind.

There will never be an end to his government. He is the alpha and omega which means he is the first and last.

God has a manesfiesto and it is in his word which is recorded in the Bible. He won’t let you down on what he promises. He has good plans for you.

All you have to do is believe and trust in him. Follow Him. I urge you to investigate who Jesus is. He died for you and he will never leave or forsake you.

All I have written is in God’s word. In his manual for life the Bible. Take a look inside this wonderful book. Perhaps start in Matthew, Mark, Luke or John where Jesus words that he spoke whilst he fulfilled his mission to reveal the Father’s heart to us on earth are written in red. A good choice of colour as he died for us so we can become children of God and have eternal life.

You will be pleasantly surprised at who is is and what he has to offer.

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Be Fruitful

Yesterday I read through Genesis 1 and afew things jumped out at me.

No big Revelations just stuff that will be useful in everyday life. One thing that struck me was that God blessed the birds, sea creatures and Adam and Eve saying be fruitful and multiply.

In Galations 5 v 22 to 23 it lists the fruits of the spirit.

Galatians 5:22-23 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

God wants us to have these fruits in our lives. He wants them to multiply and increase. Certainly more of the fruits of the spirit in my life would enhance my life and also the lives of others.

Lord, I pray and ask that You please grow me in the fruit of the spirit. Lord, may I have love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control in every area and in every aspect of my life. Father, please bring opportunities for me to grow in these fruits.

Have a good day. God bless you.

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Always something to be grateful for

On Wednesday our church gathered on zoom and a lady in our church did a very good Bible study on being thankful.
We all have those days when things, events and circumstances don’t go the way we would like them. Challenges can go on for quite sometime and we can wonder when will it ever get better?
We have two choices when life is getting us down.
We can just concentrate on the negative and grumble away or we can look for something to appreciate and express gratitude for it.
Focusing on the negative just sucks us further down into a dark pit of melancholy or depression.
Finding the positive in our days and lives no matter what is going on pulls us up higher on the hill of positivity which makes our hearts feel happier.
After the Bible study I wrote a prayer about good things God has done for us.
Everything in the prayer is based on what the Bible says about God.
The goodness of God can never be taken from us no matter what is going on in our lives and the world.

Dear Lord
Thankyou for watching over me as I slept and protecting me.
Thankyou for the gift of a new day.
A day to feel your love, comfort and presence.
A day to be led by your Holy spirit.
A day to believe and trust in you.
A day to focus on you and trust you in the storm.
A day to read your word which is the bread of life which makes my spirit stronger.
A day to be your sheep and hear your voice.
A day to he lead by still waters and green pastures.
A day to be restored by you.
A day to enjoy your beautiful creation
A day to be a Fisher of men.
A day to keep running the race keeping my eyes fixed on you.
A day to love you with all my heart soul and mind.
A day to know that you are working all things out for my good.
A day to walk in the fruits of the spirit.
A day to thankyou Jesus for paying the price of my sin on the cross that I may have everlasting life.

Help me to position myself to receive your goodness today expecting in faith that I will receive your promise that surely I will see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living Amen

Have a blessed day everyone

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When facing uncertain times.

In a book ‘Grace for purpose prayers’ I have read this verse this morning

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 NKJV

The subject of the chapter is : When facing uncertain times.

It surely is uncertain and unstable times around us in the world.

We don’t get through this journey of life without experiencing concerns challenges and difficulties.We wonder what the future holds.

When I look back though I can see I got through it all with God’s help.

I definitely want to be like this tree which stands strong through the heat,storms and droughts putting my roots deep into Jesus so I will keep standing strong and flourishing producing good fruit.

For the past few days I have had this verse coming in my head John 14 v 1

Let not your heart be troubled you believe in God,believe also in me.

I also had the words keep praying keep trusting,keep believing.

Dear Lord

Help me to be like the tree in Jeremiah 17 v 7 to 8 and to have the attitude of John 14 v 1 so I can stand strong in you no matter what

In Jesus name I pray Amen

I will post a pic of the lovely cedar of Lebanon tree in Bath Street Frome where My wonderful great aunt used to live.

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Stay close to God

Yesterday our guest speaker at church said he prays this verse as he starts his time of fellowship with God. He says something like God I am drawing close to you and I thank you that you have promised to draw near to me.

Then I found this nice article by Guidepost and thought that it may bless someone if I post it.

Have a great day and God bless x

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. (James 4:8)

Here is a story that makes me think of the importance of having a regular routine of prayer and reading the Bible:

Walking down a road with his father, a young boy was curious about some of the trails off the main path but was constrained by his father holding his hand. He was quite adamant about his need to explore and started pulling away. Finally, his father said that he could go but had to stay within earshot.

“I will call every few minutes,” his father said. “If you don’t hear my voice, you will know you have gone too far.” Eventually the boy veered so far off the path that he could no longer hear his father’s voice and began walking back.

I am like that little boy. I need to hear God’s voice for direction on a daily basis. Praying keeps me in hearing distance of what God has to say. There are days I don’t hear as well. When I find myself too busy to read my Bible, I don’t hear as well. When life demands I spend more time doing things other than praying, I don’t hear as well. I thank God that when I stray off the path, he is always waiting for me.

Sometimes I find myself in a low spiritual state because I substitute ministry for fellowship. My constant activity does not necessarily mean that I am in touch. It is through fellowship with God that I keep the communication channel open. I am grateful for the promise that God will draw near to me as I draw near to him. When I am close to him, I can hear his voice. When I hear his voice, I know that no matter what comes my way, God will take hold of my hand.

My prayer point is a simple request: to put yourself in the little boy’s place and come close to God. If you have strayed off the path, he is still in the same place. Prayer is the best way to communicate. He has something to say all day, every day.

God bless you.

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The light of the world

We have had some bright, light, sunny days this week.  The evenings are drawing out.  I know which I prefer the brighter, lighter days and evenings.  I hear many people say “These brighter days are making me feel much happier”.  I certainly agree with them as they have uplifted my spirit also.

For me the theme of Light has come my way from three directions this week.  

In my personal bible study I have been listening to a reading of Genesis via an audio bible. In the story of creation in Genesis chapter one God commanded “Let there be light” and light appeared.  God was pleased with what he saw.  I have enjoyed listening by audio.  I can relax and let the words sink in.  I can even chill out lying upon my bed with a nice cup of coffee in my hand and enjoy God’s word!

I prepared a church service for some clients in a care home.  The theme I selected after praying for help was Jesus is the light of the world.  This is how Jesus described himself in John 8 v 12.  “I am the light of the world.”

To help me chat about this in the service I googled what light represented in the Bible.  The answer was light has always been a symbol of holiness, goodness, knowledge, wisdom, grace, hope and God’s revelation.  I have found these qualities in Jesus.

He was holy without sin and became the sacrificial lamb upon the cross for my sins.  I have accepted Jesus as saviour in my heart by saying a simple prayer acknowledging that I have sinned and that he died for me.  He did it so I may be forgiven my sins and adopted as a child of his Father, God.  I now shall not perish when I die but have eternal life.  John 3 v 16 – 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.

Jesus has knowledge and wisdom.  He once met a Samaritan lady at a well and she was amazed that he knew how many husbands she had been married to.  She went back into the town and said “Come and see the man who told me everything I had ever done.”  

Jesus knows more about me than I know about myself.  He knows how many hairs are on my head which is a fact I have no idea about myself. Luke 12 v 7.  Indeed the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid you are worth more than many sparrows.

There have been times when I haven’t understood myself.  Do you know the feeling? I have acted in a stupid way and then thought after “Why have I done that. I wish I hadn’t”  That is when I find comfort in knowing Jesus knows all about the emotional baggage I carry from my past and can understand my actions even though he may not condone them.  I can pray to him knowing he fully understands my thoughts plus ways.  No one else understands me as well as this.  I am so glad I have him to turn to for comfort and support. 

In Jesus I have hope.  Hope that my life will not be a long disappointment of frustration and failure.  Hope that with his help I can overcome the challenges in my life.  Philippians 4 v 18 – I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  I have called upon Jesus’ strength many times – strength to endure lockdown plus separation from families and friends.  Strength to eat healthily so that my health would improve by losing weight.  Strength to forgive people when they hurt me.  Strength to be brave enough to start a new job.  The list is endless of how I have been helped by Jesus.

Sometimes when you are in a jam you hope that your loved ones will come to your aid but quite often you are let down.  I am so grateful I can put my hope in Jesus who will never let me down.  Hebrews 13 v 5.  “Never will I leave you or forsake you”.   When I am lonely or afraid Jesus is always with me.  His name is Immanuel.  “God is with us”.

Jesus revealed to us here on Earth the very nature of his Father.  All we have to do is look at Jesus, listen to what he said and look at how he served the people to see the love and provision of his Father.  In John 14 v 9 Jesus explains that if anyone has seen him, he has seen the Father.

I am reassured that God is a provider by the miracles of Jesus.  When Jesus provided there was always more than enough, like when He fed the crowd of 5000, there were 12 basketfuls left over.

I know when I need provision that Jesus will provide.  Once when I was bringing up my family I needed a new dining room table as my current one was a bit old and wonky.  I went in a charity shop and I saw a table and set of four chairs I liked but couldn’t afford to buy it.  I prayed to God to help me get a table.  Shortly after that a friend up the road called me.  She explained that she had purchased a table but now realised it wasn’t right for her home.  As I walked up the road I began thinking that the table was going to be the one I couldn’t afford in the charity shop and lo and behold it was.  I was so surprised but instead of charging me the sixty pounds she had paid for it, she sold it to me for twenty!! That was a lesson to me just how much God cared about my needs.

In this world so many people seem to have darkness in their hearts.  Selfish, greedy, angry, uncaring, proud etc.  In the bible it says that God shines his light into our hearts.  This scripture was read in our service today 2 Corinthians 4 v 6 – And the God who said “Out of the darkness, the light shall shine!” is the same God who made his light shine in our hearts, to bring us to the knowledge of God’s glory shining in the face of Jesus.

I am so glad that God’s light has shone in my heart.  It lit up the ignorant darkness that believed that life was all about me and what I wanted. God’s light revealed life is for loving Jesus the light of the world and following him.  The light shone upon my heart making it warm and loving to God and those around me. I still have a lot to learn but if I ask for help The Lord will shine his light and guide me on the right path.  Psalm 119 v 105 – Your word is a lamp to my feet, a light on my path.

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A word from the Lord

During the service on Sunday Feb 14th. Steve read this word the Lord had given him.

The Lord says Earth is but a speck of dust, but Heaven has no borders. No limits.
It is so beautiful that you can’t imagine.
There are more mansions, than you can understand.
Be excited in this, that I share with you.
Be excited in your spirit, that when I send for you this will give you no fear.
Only joy at the thought of heaven.

Heaven has only one gate and it will be open for you.

I will share eternity with you.

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SUNDAY SERVICE ON ZOOM- FEBRUARY 14TH

Geoff began the service by saying that today is Valentine’s Day. A celebration of love. He reflected on God’s love for us.

John 3 v 16
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.

God’s love meant that he was willing to give his one and only son so we can have everlasting life.

God loved us first before we loved him

God’s love meant that he sent his son to save us not to condemn us.

God’s love will not die or change no matter what.

When Geoff was a school boy he sang this song. 
“Jesus love is very wonderful. Jesus love is very wonderful. Jesus love is very wonderful. Oh wonderful love.  So high, you can’t get over it, so low you can’t get under it, so wide you can’t get around it, oh wonderful love”.

God loves us more than we can comprehend.

Psalm 27 v 4 was shared.

One thing I ask of the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and seek him in his temple.

The Lord is beautiful and when he reveals his beauty to us, we are lifted up.

God created us to look at beauty. 

Take your mind off the ugly negativity of the world and look up to the Lord’s beauty.  

Focus on good things.

Prayers were said saying that God deserved our praise and to be honoured by us for what he has done for us.

For his truth to be a reality in our lives by willingly making the Lord a guest in our hearts and lives.

The Lord was thanked because we can confidentially rest in assurance that we belong to him and he belongs to us.

We thanked God for the freedom we have to gather to worship him without the fear that we are breaking the law.

A member of the church shared that he had read in the book of Revelation that we must be careful not to be deceived and Geoff said that to prevent this it was important to know the word of God.

The Sermon

In Ecclesiastes 3 it says there is a season for everything.  God works in seasons. In the natural world and in God there are seasons for a reason.  

What is the current season?

In the natural it is a season of despair, frustration and depression.  It would be nice to get rid of this virus but God is with us in this season.

During this present season God wants us to press deeper into him to be ready for the next season.

At the moment there are bare trees and dismal gardens.  Underground dormant seeds are coming alive.  The daffodils are appearing.

Ephesians 3 v 14 to 20 was shared.

Verses 16 to 19
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.  And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have the power, together with all the Lord’s holy people to grasp, how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know his love that surpasses knowledge- that you may be filled to the measure with all the fullness of God.

God has a plan for each one of us.  God is the creator of everything.  God’s plan is greater and better than we can comprehend in our minds.  God has unlimited resources.  God’s warehouse will never run empty.  We cannot outdo what God has for us.  The Holy Spirit is the most important partner for us to receive what God has for us.  

This is a season for building up.  So God’s ways and love will be rooted into our lives to blossom for others to be blessed.

Deep roots are sustaining the plants during this winter time.  Being deeply rooted in God will sustain us.

The more we meditate on God’s word, praise plus worship him the more authority and power God will give us.

When God wants us to step out and do things for him our roots will be firmly established in him.

Have you got a dream of what you would like God to do?  To accomplish these dreams you have to have a deeper understanding of God.

Colossians 2 v 6 to 7

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving.  Be deep rooted in God so when the time comes you will overflow to those around you.  

We are moving into a new season but there is a reason for this season.  Use this season wisely to prepare for the next.

Keep praying for all those on the church prayer list.