New Year's Resolutions

Philip asked us last week if we had made any new year resolutions, I must admit, I hadn't, I don't ever consider doing so. But Philip asked us to think about having a commitment to doing certain things this year. To resolve to do things that are set out for us in God’s Word, and he shared with us from Hebrews 10:19-25

Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Be bold, be confident in seeking and coming before God. There is nothing to stop us now, we don't have to shrink back, we are told we can come before God boldly, having confidence through Jesus that we will not be turned away.

Draw near, worship God with a true heart, this is a natural thing for a born-again person to do. We have assurance of our salvation through Jesus, who took the punishment for our sins, He is our High Priest, (we need no other priest), He is our Advocate before the Father, (we need no man as a go between).

Hold fast, to our hope, He who has saved us is faithful and just, we need not waver, we need not doubt, because it is all in Him, we are not saved by our own merit, we are not saved by what we have accomplished, we are not saved because we are worthy. We are saved because of what Jesus has accomplished because He alone was worthy to be a sacrifice for our sins.

Consider one another, resolve to put others first, don't think more highly of yourself but in humility and compassion, help one another, consider one another's needs, and do all the good you can, to all the brethren you can, whenever you can.

Assemble with other believers, there is no such thing as a lone ranger Christian, you cannot live the Christian life and neglect being with other Christian for prayer, worship, and the study of God's Word. A piece of coal that falls from the fire soon goes cold, but put it back on the fire and it soon begins to glow again. Some people can't meet with other Christians, such as those who are persecuted, some are extremely sick, but we who can, should not neglect this privilege, and we should remember in prayer those who can't.

So, this year Christian brother or sister, resolve to know God more, draw near to Him, be bold in coming before Him, hold fast in your hope, consider one another, and keep in fellowship with one another. Remember we don't know when the Lord is coming, but we do know for certain that He is.

He's Coming Soon

Finally Filey Part 2

A continuation of Finally Filey part one It is almost seven years since I had that wonderful holiday, in the first blog I got as far as Tuesday. The following morning, I decided to take a walk along the cliff edge, but I was put off by the number of flies so I went to the park instead. We all went to Filey after lunch and made sand castles on the beach, Noah loved it, he liked the feel of the sand. Adam sat with Noah for a while just digging a big hole, there was a large mound of sand at the side of him. Then it was off to a tea shop for a cuppa and cake, afterwards we had a walk around the shops. I went back for a walk along the cliff after tea but the flies had settled on the style, the fence and all along the grass, so back to the caravan I went and watched a little TV.

Thursday was our last day, I got up at seven thirty to go for a walk but the flies were still there so I walked along the field, everyone was having breakfast when I got back. They went for a swim and I caught a bus into Filey, I had a walk around the town, got myself some books from the Salvation Army shop and then headed to the beach. Sarah and Adam came to pick me up and we went over to North Landing. It was lovely, I left them on the beach while I went to investigate. It was beautiful, the sky was so blue, there were caves, and rock pools. It was so relaxing it was hard to leave it. We did our packing when we got back and I started to read one of the books I had bought earlier.

Friday and all packed up ready to go home. It had been a wonderful week and I was so grateful to be in such a lovely place with my lovely family. We stopped off for a picnic on the way by a small lake it was full of tadpoles, snails and blue and red damselflies. 

I do love the outdoors no matter what the weather but we have been blessed by glorious weather.

Seven years since the holiday just in case you are wondering how I managed to remember, I didn’t, I found a little book that I had written in each day so I just shared a few things from it. There is no way I could have remembered all that if it had not been written down.

For those of you who know the Lord Jesus as your personal Saviour, you will also know that He sent His Holy Spirit to help us in all kinds of ways. One of which is to bring to our remembrance God’s word. But of course, if we don’t read it, He won’t. There are things we should not neglect as Christians otherwise our spiritual life suffers and so does our relationship with the Father and with Jesus. The first one is not to neglect everyday reading and studying God’s word, that is how He has chosen to communicate with us. If we don’t read it, then the Holy Spirit cannot bring scripture to our remembrance when it is needed. And it is how we find out who God is, and what is will is for His people.

The second is prayer, when we read God’s word we see wonderful examples of God’s people communicating with Him through prayer, it doesn’t matter where we are, it doesn’t matter what our circumstance. God wants us to communicate with Him and this is the way He has chosen. He also wants us to be honest and open with Him after all He sees right into our hearts and minds so there isn’t much point in trying to hide something.

And the third is fellowship with other Christians. I do know that there are some circumstances were this isn’t possible. It is hard for the persecuted church, and we who are fortunate to be able to gather together should remember those who can’t. Or you may not be able to get out of the house, if this is the case pray that the Lord would send brothers and sisters to your home to fellowship with you, read the word with you, and encourage one another. If we don’t come together then we can’t build each other up, it must be important to do it or God’s word wouldn’t mention it. Don’t follow what man thinks you should do, follow the instruction God has given us in His word. We see in the gospels often Jesus saying to the religious Jews “Have you not read?” I am sure they had but their hearts were hard and they were in unbelief. We must make sure that our hearts are receptive to His word.

1Thessalonians 5:16-22 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.

Hebrews 10: 23-25 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.