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.

Find a lane Friday

Phil (my son-in-law) took me to Derby hospital twice yesterday (Friday) to visit a friend I must admit I am so grateful that I don't drive as there seemed to be many indecisive drivers on the road that day who couldn't make their minds up what lane they should be in; they were either hopping from one lane to another or just travelling in the middle of the white line between two lanes.

I was reminded of James when he was talking about people who were blown about like the waves of the sea by the wind.

James 1:2-12 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him as of God, who gives liberally and without reproach and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is alike a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

These drivers just could not make up their minds which lane to take and we as Christians should not be lane hopping doubting the word of God who will freely give us all we need for the path He has chosen for us. It was good to be in the car with a driver who knew where he was going and what he had to do to get there. I think it much better if we don't jump in the spiritual driving seat but rely solely on the Lord Jesus Christ who knows the way and the path to take, we can and should trust Him.

There are many people who having started on the right path and trusted in the Lord Jesus who take over the driver’s seat and start going from one lane to another or they change lanes from the one the Lord would have them take, there are so many false teachings out there who are under the umbrella of Christian but are so far from the Lord's lane and we should as James points out ask the Lord for wisdom in these things so that we don't start doubting and drifting from lane to lane, how do we do this? By reading the word of God in a prayerful manner and trusting the Holy Spirit to show guide us in its truth, we should be as the Bereans (Acts 17:11) and search the scripture to see if these things are so and if someone is preaching something contrary to the word of God we should not follow but stand firm on the truth even if we stand alone.

Don't hop from one new-fangled idea to another, don't change the path God has given you, don't take over the driver’s seat and set out on a trip of your own. Trust Jesus, trust God's word and stay on the path of righteousness. God, bless you.