Now is the time for……
Gratitude

In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

One of my lasting childhood memories is of receiving a 5 shilling note in a birthday card every year from my great aunt in England. It was regular every year and it was fun to receive it. The only drawback was that every year I had to sit down and write a thank you letter; just like I had to write letters to my grandmother.

The letters always started like this….. “Dear Auntie and Uncle, I hope you are well as I am at present…”, I would thank them for the gift and then try, with my mother’s help, to write something meaningful and finally, with great relief I would sign off. It was always a chore. As I look back I am thankful for the discipline of learning to say thank you, but I am sad that I found it such a chore. I am sure my Auntie didn’t find it a chore to remember me. Now I love writing thank you notes!

One of the disciplines of my spiritual life is to be thankful. God’s word tells us that we should be thankful. I believe it is good for us to be thankful to God because it makes us mindful of all his many blessings to us. It is not a chore for God to bless us, he is a loving Father, and it is his great delight to bless us with every good and perfect gift.

It cost my aunt time, energy and money to send me that gift every year on my birthday. It was only right that I thank her. It cost God so much more to bless us with salvation through the gift of his son, Jesus Christ. Do you thank him for that? He is always ready and waiting to hear our prayers? Do you thank him for that? He is always more than willing to generously give wisdom when we ask? Do you thank him for that? The list could go on but you get the picture.

Having a thankful heart, an attitude of gratitude is something to be prized. We can be thankful for the good things that come our way, but can we also be thankful when things go wrong, when we don’t get our own way? This is the test of a trusting grateful heart. Our verse today says “In everything…”, it doesn’t say ‘for everything’. There is quite a difference. Unpleasant, even downright awful, things may come our way. We don’t need to be thankful for them, but we can be thankful that in everything that comes, God is there for us to strengthen us, help us and guide us through. Our character is most tested and developed in the tough times, we need them so let’s be thankful for the tests and trust God to bring us safely through them.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for all that you have done for me in showing your love by sending Jesus Christ to die for me. Thank you that though life situations may change and become unstable, you are the strong, unshakeable foundation of my life; you are always there for me. Amen

Caught On A Curve


When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the LORD your God …… Isaiah 43:2-3

For those of you who have done any country driving, you will no doubt have come across those curves in the road which look harmless enough as you approach, but which need concentration and care to negotiate safely. Most of them have signage to warn of the recommended safe speed and it pays to heed the warning, but sometimes it is easy to get caught on a curve traveling a little too fast and then wishing that there was a way of escape. The only thing we can do is concentrate, hold the wheel steady and complete the manoeuvre. Sometimes that bend will almost take us in a full circle if we are in hilly country. Sometimes I have wondered if the bend will ever end.

In life we can get caught on such curves. Situations arise – perhaps sickness, misfortune, family problems, or challenges with our children. Suddenly we find ourselves in uncomfortable territory and like those curves in the road, all we can do is “hang onto the wheel”, concentrate (i.e. pray and press into God), and “drive” through it. Yes, we wish there was an exit ramp by which we could escape, but there rarely is. We just have to go through it.

I like 1 Thessalonians 5:8 (NLT) which says that we can be protected by the body armour of faith and love, and wear as a helmet the confidence of our salvation. This reminds me of professional racing car drivers who deliberately, for the sake of sport, put themselves into “tight curve” situations. They put on “body armour” of fireproof suits, they wear helmets to protect their heads and they strap themselves firmly into their vehicles.

Keeping ourselves protected by the “armour” of faith and love will stop us from “crashing and burning” in the curves that life throws at us. Wearing the helmet of salvation – which is about knowing who we are in Christ and keeping our minds filled with God’s truth and His promises - will protect our thought life from taking us off course.

If you are caught on a curve of life right now, take courage, concentrate and hold that wheel tight and steer through it. You have a faithful co-driver beside you. Stay in constant communication with Him and together you will negotiate the curve safely.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you that you do not leave me alone in the curves of life. You are right there with me and you promise that you will keep me safe. Help me to hold tight to you and trust you through this time. In Jesus’ name. Amen

Sunbathing

God is light and in him is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5

December is a lovely temperature in Hong Kong. The humidity and the heat of summer have left for a few months and a little coolness in the air makes sunbathing pleasant. Today my kind of sunbathing was not lying in a swimsuit on the beach but sitting fully clothed on the newly formed promenade overlooking our little bay and its golden sand.

As I drank my coffee and munched on a muffin I was glad that I had made a conscious decision to bask in the sunshine rather than sit inside. It is so easy for me to get so focused on tasks that I let these beautiful days and the opportunity to sit outside in comfort pass me by. There is such a healing and strengthening power in the sun.

We are told that people, who live in the Arctic Circle where winter days are very short and the night hours long, suffer from what is sometimes called ‘cabin fever’. They have been without sunlight so much that their body lacks vitamins and they get depressed.

As Christians we have to learn to “Son-bathe” – to bask in our Saviour’s presence. Just to be still with Him and allow the healing balm of his love to flow over us is very life-giving. We need never be lacking for health-giving light because time with him dispels our darkness. Taking time to be in His presence daily will keep us spiritually strong and healthy.

Just as our perspective on life changes as we take time to sit and enjoy the sunshine and soak up its life-giving rays, so too will our perspective change as we spend time with God. Our darkness will become light and our mourning will be turned to joy, our tears will be wiped away and what has previously seemed impossible will now seem very possible – because nothing is impossible with God. (Luke 1:37).

Do you need new perspective today? Take time to bathe in God’s presence – worship His Son. Bathing in our Saviour’s light is very beneficial.

Prayer: Lord of light I worship you and praise you that you are always there for me. Help me to take time to bathe in your glorious light and receive your life-giving strength and joy. Amen