Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - ANXIETY and IDOLS

 ANXIETY and IDOLS

It has been said that: “Idols are a response to anxiety, and anxiety is born when we believe only in our own power and therefore put ourselves in God’s place”*

Anxiety often becomes prominent when people become frustrated. This was the case during the exodus from Egypt when, time after time, the people complained against God. But it really came to a head when Moses delayed coming down from Mt. Sinai, where he had been meeting God. The Hebrews became frustrated and anxious and decided to put themselves in a place where only God should be. They made their own god.

“Now when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered together to Aaron, and said to him, ‘Come, make us gods that shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him,’” (Exodus 32:1). 

Now it may seem strange that people would consider a god that they made to be more capable to lead them than the one who brought them out of Egypt and performed many miracles for them along the way. And yet, after Moses was gone for only 40 days did their faith wane and Aaron was asked to “make us gods.” This was not just an image of a god but the god itself. It’s amazing what anxiety and frustration can do.

We are told that God is always with us; that He is for us and that He loves us, but do we really believe this? We are also told to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) and to “Be anxious for nothing…” (Philippians 4:6) but we manage to do neither of these well.

Because of these shortcomings of our own, we continue to have our doubts, and be anxious and frustrated with life. We all do.  As a result, we tend to redefine God into an image that we feel more comfortable with and also that we may feel more in control. Like the Hebrews, we want to pour more of ourselves into this god of our making with the result that rules and regulations and works creep into what we feel god should be and require. Rather than accept Christ on faith, His death, burial, and resurrection, we continue to add to what He did so that we may feel more acceptable to Him. 

As the Hebrews lost faith on a God they could not see, in spite of what He had done, they needed an image they could visualize and mould. Likewise today, we also cannot see God and perhaps try as well to  “mould” Him into something more tangible by our constraints and our works. 

It has been said that Martin Luther was on a trip to Rome and was doing penance by climbing stairs on his knees and praying at each step when it really came to him that “…the just shall live by faith…” (Galatians 3:11) and not by works. It was the beginning of his great realization of faith that changed the course of history.

We too must all come to that same realization. We must live by faith; the works we do must come because we have favour with God and not in an effort to seek that favour. When we do the latter and add to God’s plan, then we create something entirely different, and, like the Hebrews, build our own golden calf.

What was God’s response to all this? We don’t often read the last verse in that chapter in Exodus to which we previously referred. “So the LORD plagued the people because of what they did with the calf which Arron made,” (Exodus 32:35).

Considering what the world has been experiencing the past year or so, perhaps it’s a verse we all should think about.

*How to Believe in God whether you Believe in Religion or not by Clark Strand pg. 67 

Pastor Caroline - May 30, 2021 - Lord, To Whom Would We Go?

Pastor Caroline - May 26, 2021 - Let’s Just Praise the Lord

 

Let’s Just Praise the Lord.

 

Let’s look at Psalm 34 Verses 1 to 3 in the Good News Bible today.

(1) I will always thank the Lord; I will never stop praising him.(2) I will praise him for what he has done.

May all who are oppressed listen and be glad!

(3) Proclaim with me the Lord’s greatness;

let us praise his name together!

 

Today let’s thank God for all He has done and will do in our lives. He gave us life, He fills our soul with all His goodness, and we are welcome in His presence 24 hours a day —every day we live here on this earth. I might venture to say we are greatly blessed and we should never stop praising Him as we are told in verse 1 of our reading today.

 

We must give thanks every day, even when trials and troubles are around us. Praising God takes our attention from anything in this world (including our problems) and allows us to give our adoration to God. When we put Him before and above all else we will magnify Him alone. Our souls will be lifted to Him and our burdens will not seem quite so heavy.

To those who are oppressed or depressed listen to the word of God and be glad you have His word to claim and proclaim. In times of trouble or hardship look at Psalm 9 verses 1 to 2 in the Good News Bible.

(1) I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the wonderful things you have done.

(2) I will sing with joy because of you. I will sing praise to you, Almighty God.

Let the “power of praise” rise up within you and you will feel His peace overtake you. Soon you will sing, with joy, praises unto His name.

 

When we proclaim how great the Lord is and all He has done for us, our attitude of gratitude shines through. Our praise can help us rise above our circumstances and in our obedience to praise Him at all times, God will work out our circumstances to bring glory to Him. He has better solutions to our problems than we can even imagine. So let’s praise Him before we receive.

 

I noticed Jesus always waited on the Lord, He stayed alert and He looked up to where He knew His help came from. He openly declared (proclaimed) the love of His father and gave glory to Him. He set these examples for us and when we follow His example we will be praising the Lord. With Thanksgiving we will lift our voices as we see in Psalm 67 versus 5 to 7, (GNB.

(5) May the peoples praise you, O God, may all the peoples praise you!

(6) The  land has produced it’s harvest; God, our God, has blessed us.

(7) God has blessed us;

may all the people everywhere honour him.

 

When we send our praises to heaven, we see showers of blessings. Our praise must be genuine, (honest and sincere), from the heart. We must praise in spirit and in truth. We praise because God has already been so good to us, we praise with thanksgiving, for what the Almighty Lord has done in our lives. Let our praise be our testimony of how amazing and faithful God is and has been, and will always be. We want everyone to know our Heavenly Father so they can have Him as Lord and Saviour and can praise His name from a grateful heart.  Our prayers must be our sacrifice to the Lord as we see in Psalm 50 verse 14 (GNB).

(14)  Let the giving of thanks be your sacrifice to God and give the Almighty all that you promised.

 

What can we give our God? Let’s all give the sacrifice of praise. Dave Moody wrote this praise song in 1989, or at least that was the copyright year given, and it is so appropriate. Here are the words.

Praise the Lord

Praise the Lord

Let all God’s people praise the Lord

Shake off those heavy bands

Lift up those holy hands

Let all God’s people praise the Lord.

 

Say these words over and over or sing them if you remember the tune, or Google it and sing along.

 

Today let’s bring our praises to God our Father, Jesus our Saviour and to the Holy Spirit, Who is our Guide. Three in one, our all in all – praise be to the Lord of Glory and King of Kings!!

 

Enjoy your day praising the Lord till the sun goes down. Let’s just lift our hands toward heaven and praise the Lord, as the song says. Sing, speak, write or shout your praise because God loves it all. And He deserves every ounce of our praise!!

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Book of Galatians Part 1

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - LEGACY

As the COVID pandemic drags on, and lockdowns continue, it’s not unusual to see more and more people becoming irritable, anxious, depressed, and even acting out against the authorities. In some way, it’s almost as if we’re in prison: not able to move about, get together, or just go about life in the same way that we used do - the things that we obviously took for granted just a short time ago.  The way we act toward the necessary restrictions now will be the legacy we leave to our descendants, when they look back upon this time someday in the future.

The Bible tells us not to be anxious nor to be worrisome about the future but to bring all of that to God.  “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;” (Philippians 4:6) and “…do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things.  Sufficient for the day is its own trouble,” (Matthew 6:34).  It is, of course, much easier to tell yourself or someone else not to worry than to actually do that.  We all tend to worry too much, but the principle there is that we are not to become distressed over tomorrow.

If we think that we are restricted at present in what we can do, let’s look at someone who was truly confined in movement for over two years.  About two thousand years ago Paul, who had previously been a wealthy, powerful, and high ranking Pharisee, ended life as a poor, persecuted, and imprisoned Christian.  Although allowed to see visitors, he was often chained to a Roman soldier and his movement was markedly restricted. In addition, he had a death sentence hanging over his head. He had reason to be anxious and depressed.

But what was Paul’s outlook during these years under Roman guard? While under arrest, instead of developing depression, he wrote four of the New Testament books, thus creating his legacy while under restrictions. These writings reflect his ongoing concern for the churches that he had helped create, as well as for the individual persons that he had met along the way, instead of his own personal circumstances.

He wrote Ephesians to the church at Ephesus in order to help those people understand the doctrines of the faith and their influence on Christian behaviour.  He wrote to the church at Colosse, the book of Colossians, to confirm Christ’s deity and key aspects of doctrine.  He also wrote to the church at Philippi about having joy in the face of suffering and anxiety, as well as to always be focused on Christ.  Finally, he wrote to a friend, Philemon, about forgiveness and the power of the gospel to help achieve this forgiveness and enhance equality.  Again, themes which are easier to speak about than do.

All of this while he, himself, was a prisoner either in a Roman prison or under house arrest and facing possible execution.  In spite of his circumstances, however, Paul was able during those two years, to write four letters which became important parts of the New Testament.  To write of joy, while in Roman custody, especially illustrates how focused he was on Christ and not on himself or his circumstances.  He applied the principles of being anxious for nothing and not worrying about tomorrow and as a result left a legacy that has persisted for over two thousand years.

If he could do that under the conditions in which he lived, then hopefully we can maintain our cool and keep the faith as we go through our present problems.

And that is something we should think about.      

Pastor Caroline - Are You A Carrier?

Pastor Caroline - Wednesday May 19, 2021 - Your Prayer List

 

Your Prayer List

 

(12) For the Lord watches over the righteous and listens to their prayers.

1 Peter Chapter 3 Verse 12(in part)

 

Do you have a prayer list? Names on your fridge or on a whiteboard, or perhaps a list on your phone of people you pray for? Or do you only pray when you are in need of something? Perhaps you need a job, or financial relief, maybe you’re sick, or in trouble with the law. Whatever it is, is it all about you and your needs?

Well it certainly is not wrong to pray for yourself or over yourself, and, I highly recommend you do, but it should not always be about you. Yes there are times in life when you will need God to help you get over the mountain your face, show you how to go around it, or teach you how to plough through it so that it does not return. And He will!

 

Now God is not like a store where you just walk in and order up the items you are in need of. A visit now and again does not allow you the benefit or discount that you would receive if you were, say, an employee or relative of the owner of the store. When we have a relationship with God, and are under His care, we have benefits allotted to us; such as,

(12) For the Lord watches over the righteous and listens to their prayers - as we are told in 1 Peter chapter 3 verse 12 (in part). Isn’t that beautiful?

 

God considers us righteous when Jesus is our Lord and Saviour as it is Jesus who intercedes on our behalf. We pray and Jesus our Lord, hears our voice. Today I stand on a promise from His word which Jesus taught while He was in Galilee as part of His teaching as He told others back then, (and we read it and apply it to our lives today), in Matthew chapter 7 verses 7 to 8 in the Good News Bible.

(7) Ask, and you will receive, Seek and you will find,

Knock and the door will be opened. The word goes on to say in verse 8:

(8) For everyone who asks will receive, and anyone who seeks will find, and the door will be opened to him who knocks.

 

The promises of God are real. You can trust what He says He will do — He will do!

I never shy away from knowing that Jesus’ teaching is solid ground for you and me to stand on and we can be very sure of our footing.

 

Now let’s go back to the prayer list. When you pray for others you are interceding, standing in on behalf of someone. You are praying because someone asked you to, or you felt lead in your heart to hold that person in prayer. You take “the responsibility of coming before the Lord with their need”. You are giving the need to Jesus, who then intercedes to His Father, Our Lord in heaven. The person who asked you to pray depends on you to do just that, and you give the prayer to Jesus and you depend on Him to deliver it to His father. Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened.

 

A thought just came to my mind; we stand on guard for thee. This line of course comes from our national anthem, O Canada. It means that wherever we are from in the world, we are all called to “stand on guard for Canada”. Wherever we are from in the world, if we have accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour and asked Him to reside within our hearts, He stands on guard for every one of us before His father.

 

There certainly will be times in life when we will be overcome with stressors that can bring us to a halt. Just what the devil wants. He wants us to stand still, broken in our thoughts and actions, because then we are an easy target. Well devil, you have no real estate in our lives; this needs to be our come back. Now let’s tell him, that all things are possible with God, as we see in Luke chapter 1 verse 37. So even if the stressors are here in our life for a time it is possible for us to move forward and onward with the life that God has planned for us as we see in Jeremiah chapter 29 verse 11.

 

I would like you to know the more you pray for others, the more confident you will be. You will be comfortable to share with Jesus the needs of others and your needs as well. He waits for us to visit with Him. We must bring our thanks and our praise to Jesus as well. We will soon find that life is so much better under His care and direction and we will always have a place of shelter. There is no one like the Lord our God as we read in Psalm 113 verse 5 and, We are to praise His name Now and forever, Verse 2, all over the world - from the east to the west – praise the name of the Lord! Verse 3

 

Perhaps our prayer list will look like this;

Thanks to our Lord

Praise to God

Intercession for others (neighbours, family, friends, strangers, our nation, etc.)

For those who are sick

For those who do not know Jesus as Lord and Savior

For the dying

For families of those suffering

Spiritual warfare

Church family

All churches who preach Christ.

This is just a start, you can draw up your own prayer list, and you will find more to pray for, the more you pray. Amazing isn’t it?

 

When we pray it is always good to be specific in our request, to use God‘s word as we pray and always end with thanks, believing “the will of God is always the true answer to prayer”. Let us rejoice and testify to the glory of God. Now remember, we must take our time because God is not in a hurry and neither should we be. May we enjoy our time with the Lord and delight in Him as He delights in us.

When many people pray through a list, many prayers are raised and answered in the name of Jesus. Oh what a glorious day for prayer!! 🙏 🙏

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Book of Esther Part 10

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - GRUDGES

 GRUDGES

Most people, at some time or other, will hold a grudge against another person. Thankfully most of these are minor in nature but still can cause considerable difficulties between the persons involved. Countries, as well, often hold grudges against other nations and most times these are of a more serious nature.

The Bible states that we are not to hold ill will against anyone. Leviticus 19:18 states: “You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbour as yourself: I am the LORD.” Isaiah 43:18 puts it this way: “Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old.”  Finally, Romans 12:17 says: “Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.”

This, at least in part, is because “… the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).  Thus, we are to “…continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God…” (Hebrews 13:15).

Unfortunately, because we don’t usually do what is required of us, events often do not turn out the way they otherwise might. Grudges go on, ill will persists, and the world continues to unfold as at present.  We forget that someone is always there; the one we are always to be thinking about.

Does it really make a difference? Probably more often than we realize and there are certainly examples enough to indicate so.

Ira Sankey, a singer who worked with American evangelist D. L. Moody, was a Union soldier during the Civil War. On one occasion, on his way back from a trip to England, he was talked into doing an impromptu concert while on a riverboat near Pennsylvania. He sang “Saviour, Like a Shepherd Lead us” a song by Willian Bradbury.  After he finished singing a man approached him.  He told Ira that years before he had been a soldier in the Confederate Army, and that on one occasion, while Ira Sankey had been on guard duty, had the opportunity to shoot him.  The man told Ira he did not take that opportunity because as Ira was on guard he was also singing the same song he had just rendered. The man also mentioned that his own mother frequently sang the same song and he was so startled by hearing a Union guard singing that song while on duty that he forgave the opportunity and did not shoot. Ira and this second man went off together as new friends to talk.

More recently, at a Halifax Tattoo, midway through the performance, a lone man stepped out unto the arena surface.  In a quiet voice he related how, during the Second World War, he had been the Captain of an Allied vessel that had been sunk by a torpedo from a German U-boat not far off the coast of Nova Scotia. While he was relating this story, in front of an audience so quiet you could hear a pin drop, a second elderly man slowly walked out from the opposite side of the Metro Center.  He, in turn, began to relate that he too had also been in the navy during the war and had also captained a vessel. He had been, in fact, the captain of the U-boat which had sunk an Allied vessel off Canada’s coast. He now lived near Halifax. As he finished his story, both men walked off the floor together relating how they had become friends in the latter years of their lives.

At a time when there are so many conflicts and problems between countries and peoples, it’s interesting to see what can develop when grudges and ill will can be put aside and conflicts forgotten. What can be is what could be if people and nations “[Did] not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old” (Isaiah 43:18). We are told not to bear grudges and to love our neighbours while praising God because we are always being watched.  Perhaps it’s something we should always be thinking about. 

Pastor Caroline - May 16, 2021 - His Voice

Pastor Caroline - Wednesday May 12, 2021 - You are a Somebody!

 

You are a Somebody!

 

Have you ever heard someone say, “Well I’m nobody in the grand scheme of things”. How sad is this statement and how very sad and degrading if that person truly believes that.

 

You are a somebody!

You are God’s creation!

You are not an accident or a mistake.

Don’t ever let anyone tell you this.

YOU — are a child of God!!

Let’s look at Psalm 139 verses 13 to 16 in the Good News Bible for confirmation of this very truth:

(13) You created every part of me; you put me together in my mother’s womb.

(14) I praise you because you were to be feared; all you do is strange and wonderful.

(15) When my bones were being formed, carefully put together in my mother’s womb, when I was growing there in the secret, You knew I was there —

(16) You saw me before I was born. The days allotted to me have all been recorded in your book, before any of them ever began.

 

God has a purpose and a plan for your life. How do I know? The Bible tells me so. Let’s examine the word of God for this in Jeremiah 29 verse 11

(11) I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring about the future you hope for.

 

So from these two verses alone, in Psalms and in Jeremiah, we see that we are a creation of the Lord most high. He knew us before we were born. He has all our days recorded in His book. He knows the purpose and plans He has for us. He cares about us and our future. It took Him nine months to gently mold and shape us putting every bone in place in the safety of our mother’s womb. This is truly amazing. Of course you are a somebody! A somebody handcrafted by the Father of the universe, the greatest artist ever!!

 

When you finally realize how you began and from where you came, you will certainly feel like the someone special God made you to be. (Now read that statement over again slowly and let it sink in)

You have talents He gave you, your personality is unique to you alone, you are gifted in many ways which He wants you to use bring glory to Him, and that is just the beginning.

If you sing — sing praises unto Him, if you play an instrument use it for His glory, if you are gifted speaker use your voice to call others to the heart of Christ.

Let God show you who you are in Him and who He is in you.

 

Let this sink into your mind, soul and body and thank God every day for who He made you to be.

 

Know your worth and value. You are priceless and God loves you more than you will ever know here on earth.

 

Remind yourself every day that God made you, and no one else in the world is like you. God never makes two of a kind, even in twins or any multiple births, there is always a distinction between them, however we are all made equal, in God’s image.

Genesis chapter 1 verse 27 in the Good News Bible reads:

(27) So God created human beings, making them to be like himself.

 

When we realize how fearfully and wonderfully made we truly are; we have a whole new understanding of how amazing God is. Who else could bring us from heaven to earth and then back to heaven for eternity?

 

So take some time today to thank God:

For the colour of your eyes

For your unique personality

For your health and your life

For your ability to love and to share that love with others, and for His blessings on your life.

And thank Him today for making you exactly who you are, precious in His sight.

A somebody God loves so much, He died on the cross to prove His love for you.

 

Have a beautiful day in His presence.

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Book of Esther Part 9

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - JESUS +?

 JESUS + ?

With the possible exception of Luke, Paul was most likely the better educated of Christ’s early followers.  Being a Pharisee and educated under the leadership of Gamaliel, he was undoubtedly the most knowledgeable in the Jewish religion and ritual.  When he met Christ, however, on the road to Damascus, everything changed and from then on he preached only Christ and His crucifixion.  The first part of 1 Corinthians 1:23 - “…but we preach Christ crucified…” - became the theme of both the early apostles and the early church. 

This theme resonated with people. Paul and his associates, with great success, were planting churches everywhere they went.  In Ephesus, beginning with about a dozen believers in 53 AD, he went on to develop a megachurch of tens of thousands by about 55 AD.  Paul felt that preaching anything other than what was first preached brought deceptions into the message and resulted in diluting the true meaning of the gospel.  He felt this was, to a certain extent, the enemy’s doing and thus part of his overall message on falsehood.  As John put it "You are of your father the devil….When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it,” (John 8:44).

Paul felt that even in the early church false teachers had come into the body, spreading the deceptions of Satan in at least 4 ways.  Firstly, by adding subtle changes to the gospel.  This made it fit more readily into the culture/reason/science of the time; but by doing so “teachers” risked undermining the true divine inspiration of the Word.  Paul commented on this in Colossians 2:8: “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.”  The French philosopher Blaise Pascal put it this way - “The supreme function of reason is to show man that some things are beyond reason.”*

Secondly, by relying too much on rituals rather than on Christ, even in the early church, Jewish ritual and custom began to creep back in and has continued to do so even in the church of today.  Paul addressed this problem in Colossians 2:11-16.  “In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands…buried with Him in baptism…[and] having forgiven you all trespasses…So let no one judge you in food or drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.”

Thirdly, people were being mislead by those who claimed help from heavenly visions or visitors.  In the early church many false teachers claimed to be guided by angels or heavenly beings because God was too far away or busy to help directly.  They, therefore, needed mediators or items to connect them with Christ.  Apparently, a Roman amulet found near Colossae bore the following: “Michael, Gabriel, Ouriel, Raphael - protect the wearer.”  Do people not still do the same today?  Do they not turn to mediators instead of following the words of Timothy: “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus…” (1 Timothy 2:5)?

Fourthly, and finally, people are deceived by the concept of self-denial.  False teaching that stated one could become more godly by refusing to touch, taste, or handle certain things.  Asceticism may look wise on the exterior but this self-imposed worship has no power to change anyone.**  As Paul puts it, “Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations—‘Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,’ which all concern things which perish with the using—…These things indeed have an appearance wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh,” (Colossians 2:20-23).

If God’s gift to us was forgiveness through Christ’s death and resurrection, why do we continually try to dilute Christ’s sacrifice by attempting changes to the message?  Why do we utilize other messengers or rituals which detract from Christ ?  Why do we engage in a form of self-denial which then becomes a manner of self-worship? It’s all done in the church and done today and it’s really something we should think about.

*Blaise Pascal as recorded in Straight to the Heart of Galatians to Colossians by Phil Moore pg 184

**From Straight to the Heart of Galatians to Colossians by Phil Moore pg.186 and concept from same source pg.183-186   

Pastor Caroline - May 9, 2021 - Mother's Day

Pastor Caroline - Wednesday May 5, 2021 - Everything

 

Everything

 

Good morning friends. I came across this scripture this morning; Romans chapter 15 verse 4. Please let me share it with you. I’m reading in the Good News Bible.

(4) Everything written in the scriptures was written to teach us, in order that we might have hope through the patience and encouragement which the scripture gives us.

 

What a powerful verse this is. Everything, everything, written in the scriptures, not just selected versus and not just a thought here or there, but, EVERYTHING!!

 

The Scriptures;

Teach us— Psalm 25:5, and 32:8

Give us hope— John 3:16 and Isaiah 43:1-2

Grow our patience— Jeremiah 29:11

Encourage us— 1Thessalonians 5:11

as we wait on the promises of God.

 

These are just a few scriptures I found as I wrote the words, teach, hope, patience and encourage. There are many scriptures verses to be found that will strengthen your faith as your study His word.

 

When doubt overtakes us, when confusion settles in our minds, when despair robs us of our hope, when fear cripples us, when weakness stops us in our tracks, we need to pick up our Bible, the love letter written to us by God, and read the Scriptures. There we will find teaching, hope, patience and encouragement. We will find the answers to our “why me” questions, and learn how to move forward in strength, strong in our faith and then say to ourselves, “I can, I can do this”; because I have the strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me. I did not just randomly make this up; I found this in my love letter from God in Philippians chapter 4 verse 13. Check it out for yourselves.

 

God teaches us, as we see in Psalm 32 verse 8:

(8) The Lord says, “I will teach you the way you should go, I will instruct you and advise you.”

As God teaches us to live according to His truth, our lives can and will be better structured and His plan for our lives will be carried out.

 

We have hope because John chapter 3 verses 16 and 17 assures us:

(16) For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life.

(17) For God did not send his Son into the world to be its judge, but to be its Savior.

Our hope is in our Savior, Jesus Christ.

 

As we patiently wait on the Lord Jeremiah chapter 29 verse 11 tells us,

(11) I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring about the future you hope for.

God‘s got us in His hands. He knows our future. We must have patience and put our hope in Him alone. Praise His name.

 

We are told to encourage one another as we see in 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 verse 11

(11) And so encouraging one another and help one another just as you are now doing.

 

So when doubt, confusion, despair, fear and weakness enters our lives, let’s go to the word of God, for teaching, hope, patience, and encouragement; as we stand on His promises written in His word.

Take some time today to look up the Scriptures I shared with you and see that they are all indeed in the love letter God has sent to all of us.

Hopefully this helps to bring forth clarity of Romans chapter 15 verse 4: Everything written in the Scriptures was written to teach us, in order that we might have hope through the patience and encouragement which the Scriptures give us.

Enjoy your day in great confidence knowing the God who created the world loves you so much. Let us give Him our thanks with a grateful heart.

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Book of Esther Part 8

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - THE QUESTION OF GOD

THE QUESTION OF GOD

After 40 years in the desert, the Hebrew people arrived at the edge of the Promised Land.  Those who had been 20 years of age or older when the journey began were no longer with them, having perished in the desert.  God had said: “they certainly shall not see the land of which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who rejected Me see it” (Numbers 14:23).  Now, after Moses died and Joshua was about to enter the Promised Land, he challenged the Hebrew people with these words “…choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served…or the gods…in whose land you dwell. But for me and my house, we will serve the Lord,” (Joshua 24:15).

Note that Joshua said “serve the Lord” and not merely “know the Lord.”  The Hebrew people had known God for many generations but, because they had rebelled and not obeyed or served Him, still suffered in the desert for 40 years.  Has the situation really changed today? How many of us end up suffering for years because we still don’t obey or serve Him even though we know Him and even say we believe in Him?

One famous example of this is that of Sigmund Freud.  He was a brilliant man, a world famous psychiatrist, and is known as the father of psychoanalysis.  As a youth, he was Jewish and knew God, but as he became older and more intellectual he rejected the faith and became atheistic in his thinking.  Even as he expressed this viewpoint, Freud still often made passing references to God in his speeches and quoted from the Bible on occasion.  He obviously had some knowledge of God but never served Him.  He had conflicts throughout his life with various relationships, with memories of his parents, and never really seemed settled.  He suffered from depression himself and was preoccupied with fears of dying as many of his birthdays approached.  He was afraid of “freezing in an ice-cold grave” and of the “terrors of eternal nothingness.”*  When he did become seriously ill suicide was feared and although he remained a committed atheist to the end, his favourite books contained biblical themes and stories.

Alternative to the life of Freud was that of C.S.Lewis.  Another brilliant man, he began his intellectual life as an atheist and felt that this philosophy gave him the freedom he wanted.  He later developed an interest in Christianity through the works of George MacDonald, and initially struggled with his conversion as he reported in his book Surprised by Joy. 

You must picture me alone in that room in Magdalen [Collage, Oxford], night after night, feeling, whenever my mind lifted even for a second from my work, the steady unrelenting approach of Him whom I desired so earnestly not to meet.  That which I so greatly feared had at last come upon me. In the Trinity Term of 1929 I gave in, and admitted that God was God, and knelt and prayed: perhaps, that night, the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England**

C.S.Lewis held lofty positions and professorships at both Oxford and Cambridge Universities.  During much of this time, he also served God in his many lectures and books and his continued confession of his relationship with God.  As he got older, he didn’t look upon his advanced years as a burden, but as a friend and deliverer.  He understood death “as a result of the transgression of God’s laws and not part of the original plan” and “…the means that God uses to redeem us”***  C.S. Lewis was cheerful up to the end and had a cup of tea just before he died. “Would we all not wish to go the same way when our time comes?”****

Two lives: one a highly educated man who rejected God and lived a fearful life; dreading death at each birthday and whose his doctor declined to tell him the truth about his health for fear he might be triggered into committing suicide.  The other, another highly educated man, who revered God and served Him for most of his life.  Although this man had his problems, he welcomed his advancing years and approaching death such that he remained calm and cheerful to the end.  One knew God and rejected Him; the other knew God and served Him and the difference was evident.     

After Joshua made his statement that “we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15) the people answered and said “…‘God forbid that we should forsake the Lord to serve other Gods…’”(Joshua 24:16 KJV).  Joshua replied, “If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you, after He has done you good,” (Joshua 24:20).  He proclaimed that “…‘You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the Lord for yourselves, to serve Him…’” (Joshua 24:22) and so the people departed “…each to his own inheritance,” (Joshua 24:28).

It really is a Question of God.  Does one know about Him but reject Him as did Freud or does one know Him and serve Him as did C.S.Lewis?  Two lives so very similar and yet so striking in the difference.  It’s a question we all must face, because we are all witnesses against ourselves and will each go to our own inheritance. It is something to think about. 

*The Question of God by Dr. Armand M. Nicholi, Jr. pg 222

** Surprised by Joy by C.S.Lewis as reported in Wikipedia

***The Question of God by Dr. Armand M. Nicholi, Jr. pg 231

**** ibid pg 239

Pastor Caroline - May 2, 2021 - Come and Dine