Wednesday, June 6, 2012

God save our gracious Queen

This week I have watched telecasts of some events surrounding Queen Elizabeth's diamond jubilee.

I'm a republican by inclination but readily acknowledge the strength of the Queen's contributions and the worthiness of the celebrations.

However, my mind strayed. If we greet an earthly monarch's jubilee with some jubilation, how much more the jubilation at the reign of him whose kingdom will be 60x60f years and have no end?

Come king Jesus, come!

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Pray without ceasing (1 Thess 5:17)

Every Christians hears the call to constant prayer in 1 Thess 5:17.

It fits with the whole pattern of the Bible - that we are to live every moment and do every action in a spirit of worshiping God by depending on him to meet our needs and those of others.

How many of us do that?

Not me.

Prayer has always been a battle ground for me, for it strikes at my pride and reminds me of my weakness. For me, prayer has to be a matter of disciplined routines. It is not the natural habit that it should be after decades of following the Lord.

Not so for a lady that I met last weekend.

I went to a church in the area where I was ordained in 1979. As a lady left the church she commented on the sermon and said that she had been praying for me since I was ordained. And she has said the same on the two visits I have made to that church since leaving the area in 1983.

I thank God for that lady who has surely lain a foundation for whatever usefulness I have in ministry. I stand in awe of her example.