Category: Devotions

I hear the sound ….

I remember as a young person in church singing some strange songs!
“I hear the sound of rustling of the leaves of the trees.” Whenever I sang it I never did hear the sound.

Not long after that we were singing, “I hear the sound of the army of the Lord.” We tried to sing it like we were the army.

A few years later we were singing, “I hear the sound of a distant thunder.” A bit more of an upbeat tune but it never did thunder, though we would use the drums a lot to make it sound like it had.

As I look back I have spent the majority of my Christian life expecting things were about to get better or something beautiful was going to happen. I’ve sang it, listened to it and believed it. It hasn’t been a bad thing, it has certainly helped me remain in position instead of running from it.

Missions in and around the Elim globe teaches me to do all I can to hold on to such a simple belief that God’s best is yet to come.

Malachi 3:8-11
“…. and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit,” says the LORD Almighty.

For a few days I want to simply and briefly share the promises of an open heaven.

One promise is that the impossibilities will become possibilities.
Elisha was under pressure of his life from the king of Jerusalem because the enemy, Samaria, was attacking them. Elisha predicts a famine in Samaria but a kings helper said, “Even if the Lord should open the floodgates of the heavens could this happen?”

There are some people who for many reasons just cannot believe what you are believing for.
However, that is exactly what will happen.
An open heaven makes all things possible!

Pain in Nigeria

Having just returned from the north of Nigeria I am once again musing over the Christian believers who every day face the battle to live for Christ and often to live for him has meant they have had to die for him.
I was privileged to hear from those who live with the constant threat of Boko Haram, they live amongst them though BH remain hidden amongst the shadows.
I heard of the bravery of the Chibok girls, the majority still in captivity, but many had escaped their hell by fleeing or being rescued. Every day they faced their torment at the hands of evil men. It was and is always a privilege to be in these places.

I returned home to the news that Barnados have been given 3 million pounds to deal with what the Jay report found in that 1,400 children were abused by gangs of men, mainly of Pakistani origin, between 1997 and 2013.
Whether overseas or here in the UK; whether in your neighbourhood or workplace, people remain trapped by many things. Not all of them are the horrors of man, but nevertheless they can leave people paralysed.
We all have a daily opportunity to help.
Let me ask you to read just one verse today: 1 Samuel 23:16 “Jonathan went to David at Horeb and helped him find strength in God.”
Can you remember stepping into someone’s pain? Or leaving your road of victory and walking with them on the road marked with suffering?
Can you remember when you last came alongside someone?
Can you remember when you last prayed for someone saying, “I believe in you. You will make it. Together we will do this. We will overcome.”
This is mission. You’re in it or you’re not.

True Devotion final part

What will togetherness look like? Acts 2: 44
“All the believers were together and had everything in common”.

They devoted themselves …

When she was 14years, Helen was asked if she hated the Chinese people for all they had done to her parents. She immediately responded, “Oh, I think they are just wonderful. I love them.”

What will we give to and whom? Acts 2: 45
“Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need”.

When the power of God comes upon the church then Christians will get serious about their money and material things.

They devoted themselves …
1932 “Shall we beat a retreat, and turn back from our high calling in Christ Jesus, or dare we advance at God’s command in the face of the impossible? Let us remind ourselves that the Great Commission was never qualified by clauses calling for advance only if funds were plentiful and no hardship or self-denial was involved.”
Betty would write, “I want something really worthwhile to live for. Like most young people, I want to invest this one life of mine as wisely as possible, in the place that yields richest profits to the world and to me…I know very well that I can never realize the richest, most satisfying life Christ meant for me, if I am not giving my life unselfishly for others.”

What will our favour be? Acts 2: 47
“praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people”.
Favour is preferential treatment shown to somebody.
It denotes acceptance, approval and pleasure.
When the power of the Lord comes then it is not just persecution but favour.
A Christian is good to have around.
Their values are wholesome.

They devoted themselves …
The baby Helens life was spared because a Chinese stranger sacrificed his life for her.
This is favour.

And that over the last few days my friends is Devotion!

True Devotion 3

What wonder will we be filled with? Acts 2: 43.
“Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles”.

They devoted themselves …

Many young men and women offered to replace the Stams. One leader said “I personally know of hundreds of volunteers of all ages who gave their lives to the Lord for missionary service because of their death” A co-worker wrote to Betty’s parents “A life which had the longest span of years might not have been able to do 100th of the work for Christ which they have done in a day.”

This is wonder. Captivated by a life. Changed by a life.

True Devotion 2

What will we devote ourselves to? Acts 2:42
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer”.

They devoted themselves …

On the day that news reached America of John and Betty Stams martyrdom, Johns father received a letter from his son that had been posted a few weeks before by John, in it he included this poem:

Afraid? Of what?
To feel the spirit’s glad release?
To pass from pain to perfect peace?
The strife and strain of life to cease?
Afraid – of that?

Afraid? Of what?
Afraid to see the Saviour’s face?
To hear His welcome, and to trace
The glory gleam from wounds of grace?
Afraid? – of that?

Afraid? Of what?
A flash – a crash – a pierced heart;
Darkness – light – O heaven’s art!
A wound of his counterpart!
Afraid? – of that?

Afraid? Of what?
To do by death what life could not –
Baptise with blood a stony plot,
Till souls shall blossom from the spot?
Afraid? – of that?

True Devotion 1

This is the story of a church that was destined to die in order that future generations of the church may live.

Acts 2:42-47

They devoted themselves …

Will you be devoted?
Over the next few days we will meditate on these verses from Acts through the filter of this devoted true story.

John and Betty Stam in December 1934 were taken to the local prison where some of the prisoners were released to make room for the Stams. In the midst of it, Helen started crying, and a soldier suggested that they kill her, since she was only “in their way.” Then one of the prisoners who had just been released asked why they should kill the innocent baby. The soldiers turned to him asked him if he was a Christian, he denied this and then was asked if he was willing to die for the foreign baby. The man was hacked to pieces for Helen in front of the Stams’ eyes. Thus, Helen was allowed to live.
The next morning, they were forced to march 12 miles to the town of Miaosheo. They stopped for a night, and Betty was allowed to tend to Helen, but in fact hid her in the room inside a sleeping bag. The very next morning, John and Betty were being marched down the streets of Miaosheo to meet their death. Crowds lined both sides of the street. A Chinese shopkeeper stepped out of the crowd and talked to the communists, trying to persuade them not to kill the Stams. They ordered the man back into the crowd, but he wouldn’t step back. The soldiers then invaded his house where they found a Bible and hymnbook. He was then led alongside the Stams to be killed as well for being a Christian. After marching for a short while longer, John was ordered to kneel, and he was beheaded. Betty and the shopkeeper were killed moments later. The baby, Helen was found two days later by a Chinese pastor who took her home and took care of her.

A Blessing

May you continue to be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power and He will enable you to work with energy and vigour and face each task with His strength. When you feel weak you will be at your strongest.

May you continue to draw near to God with sincerity of heart and He will reach others through your genuine love.

May you continue to share your faith with words and actions and may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians 6:10; Proverbs 31:17; 2 Corinthians 12:10; Hebrews 10:22; Romans 12:9; James 2:26; Hebrews 13: 20-21.

Be blessed

May God bless you with discomfort
At easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships
So that you may live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger
At injustice, oppression and exploitation of people
So that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.

May God bless you with tears
To stand for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger and war
So that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy.

And may God bless you with enough foolishness
To believe that you can make a difference in the world
So that you can do what others claim cannot be done
To bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor.

Anon

He stands between the loaves

Taking the five loaves and two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves … Mark 6: 41

This was all that was available to Jesus.
Two tiny fish that would have been used like a relish on the bread.

Nothing.
Yet available.
Never underestimate the power of crumbs.
Crumbs can feed 5,000.
Miracles occur after brokenness.

Someone asked me the other day: I am in bits, can God use me?

The answer is: He only uses bits.

Thankfully used

Caedmon, the first great poet of the English language was actually an illiterate lay worker in the monastery at Whitby, North Yorkshire.
The 7th century monks would take it in turns singing to the harp. Caedmon would step outside when they began singing because he didn’t know any songs and he couldn’t sing anyway.
One night after he left, he fell asleep and in his dream a man came to him and said, “Caedmon, sing me something.”
“If I could sing I would have stayed with my friends!”
“Sing anyway.”
Poetry came from his mouth as he sang.
When he woke up he remembered the dream and the song he sang and told the Abbott in the monastery.
All agreed God had given him a gift.
They gave him Biblical themes and he would compose poems. The whole of Genesis and the major stories of the Bible were all used in his poetry.
The first English Poet was an illiterate worker, before God got a hold of him.
God has you and will do amazing, inspiring, life-changing things with you.
If you cannot believe this then you are most likely a candidate!
If you think you are just an ordinary person then you are most likely a candidate!
If you can simply say YES to Him then you are definitely a candidate!