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.

Changed beyond recognition

I thoroughly enjoy photography, I used to take my camera everywhere I went but I can't manage that now. Occasionally when I am feeling well I will go somewhere with my camera and take a few pics. I must admit I can never do nature justice, no matter how good the photo is. I don’t think anyone can. I also like changing my photos, I used to edit them in photoshop years ago but can’t seem to manage that these days either, but the internet has a host of sights that will do it for you. There are a two or three that are my favourites, Picmonkey, pho.to, and Artbot to name but a few, there are many, many more.

They alter the picture in all kinds of different ways, all of which are in the main very pleasing to the eye. Having changed them I can use them on line for birthday greetings, or I put scripture on and share them on the social media all with the hope that they will encourage and uplift the reader.

There are times I alter a photo until it looks nothing like the original picture, it may still be pleasing to the eye but the person looking at it wouldn’t have a clue what it was unless I told them. We can be a bit like this trying in our own way to alter our lives in the hopes that people won’t see the real us. When I take a photo I know what the original looks like, and no matter how much of a show we might put on for others we all know what we are like inside. But we don't know ourselves as well as our Maker does; only God knows the true extent of what we are capable of, Jesus said:

Matthew 15:9 
For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

The Psalmist said:

Psalm 44:21

If we had forgotten the name of our God

Or stretched out our hands to a strange god,

Would not God discover this?

For He knows the secrets of the heart.

Many there are who are charmed by the false impression of Christianity today, God is love, God loves everyone, accept Jesus, Jesus loves you, you are a child of God, everybody is going to heaven, ask Jesus into your heart, and many more such things that never ever address man's heart sickness, which is sin. They do not confront the sinner with his sin which is the reason why Christ Jesus came, to take the punishment for man’s sin.

Many will not be truthful with regard to the consequence of sin either, we all know that if we break the law of our land we have to stand before a judge and when found guilty we will be punished. Why then do we think that God won't punish us for breaking His laws. Heaven is real and it is where all the righteous will go, hell is real and it is where all the unrighteous go. Do you believe you are righteous and if so what is the basis for that belief?

If you truly want to know the truth go to the original, God's Word and not man's but beware of modern versions that change the original meaning or leave out words and sentences. Don't heed the dressed up version that paints a lovely picture, that tickles the ears of men, and that paints a rosy glow as if you can have heaven without hell, the gospel without Calvary, salvation without repentance. Or of those who say you need an extra book, ie Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormonism, 7th Day Adventists, etc. Or those who say you have to work for your salvation by paying a penance, or chanting repetitive prayers, or confessing to a priest (none of these things are taught in God's Word.

Forgiveness for your sin is not earned neither do we deserve it, it has a huge cost which was paid for by Jesus Christ at Calvary. Study the Holy Bible for the truth, and not what man has written about it. Have you been charmed by all the little extras that man adds on, by people’s testimonies and stories, have you been charmed with the idea of salvation without repentance, a bloodless sacrifice, heaven without hell? Don’t be charmed be changed, study God’s Word, and seek His grace and mercy. Acknowledge that you are a sinner, repent of your sin and put your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. May God by His Holy Spirit bring you to that place of repentance, and may you know His forgiveness, His peace, His love, His joy, forever.