Is Argos becoming the Ebenezer Scrooge of retailers?

A story in UK newspaper The Mirror, today reports that retail catalogue giant, Argos, have used the Credit Crunch as an excuse to convert Boxing Day from a Bank Holiday to a normal working day for their employees. Argos also wants its workers to "flex their working day by plus or minus two hours for no extra pay" and to accept tiered pay rates linked to "multi-skilling and performance".

In order to try and bully their staff into accepting the proposals Argos are offering a bribe of £500 to employees in exchange for them signing an acceptance of the new conditions. Mutters of potential mass redundancies and the like add to the attempt to frighten staff into capitulation.

Argos say that workers who work on Boxing Day will be given a day off in lieu, whereas at present they either pay double-time or else give two days off, Boxing Day being a Public Bank Holiday.

This measure, should it be implemented, will herald further draconian measures by Argos without doubt. What next? Will it be Christmas Day or Easter? Eventually they might even manage to do away with staff holidays as well!

Of course, the measures they propose will undoubtedly apply to staff in the retail section of the Company and not the fat cats at the top who will undoubtedly continue to enjoy the benefits of Bank Holidays that they are attempting to deny their staff.

All in all, unacceptable behaviour on the part of Argos!

'Put on the whole armour of God'

This Scripture verse, taken from Paul's letter to the Ephesians, has been given to me one way or another ever since I committed my life to Christ and to serving His kingdom. If I've been feeling a little 'down' or fearful over anything, then along comes someone to share this verse with me. Even when I'm feeling pretty good about everything, it's a verse that has the power to lift me even more because it reminds me that God equips us with everything that we'll need to do His work, no matter how difficult it might sometimes appear.

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ARE WE STANDING

“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”
Ephesians 6: 11 - 13 (King James Version)

There are a lot of different definitions for the word “standing” in Webster’s Dictionary. The definition that I like the best is “not movable.” When we are anchored securely on our firm foundation, we can not be moved. We read in the Bible “Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek” (Hebrews 6: 19, 20).

We also read in the Bible “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3: 11). Jesus is the foundation on which we must stand if we are going to be able to withstand the vicious attacks of satan. I wonder how many times we have tried to defeat satan in our own strength. It hasn’t worked and it never will work. Only Jesus has the power to defeat satan.

Don’t let satan discourage and defeat you. Cry out to Jesus and ask Him to help you. When we are weak, He is strong. “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12: 9). Thank You, Heavenly Father, for the armour that You give us for protection.

Joanne Lowe
March 12, 2009
joannelowe8@cox.net
http://www.hesetmefreeforever.blogspot.com/

Last night I watched 'The Lake House'

Looking for something to watch on the TV yesterday evening I chanced upon a 2006 film that looked as though I might enjoy it. It was The Lake House, starring Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves. It was an improbable love story with lots of things about it that didn't need to be questioned so much as simply accepted and enjoyed. Set in 2004 and 2006, the film charts the progress of Kate and Alex, she in 2004 and he in 2006, as they exchange a series of love-letters via a mailbox at the Lake House where Kate is currently leaving for the city and where Alex is next to live. Confused yet? Never mind! Like I said, it's a film that you need to simply accept all the improbables about the storyline and just enjoy!

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Here's a few shots from it.

This is The Lake House that is the centre of attention. What a great place to live!

Keanu Reeves is Alex, the lonely Chicago architect who exchanges letters with Kate, and falls in love by mail.

Kate (Sandra Bullock) waits and watches by the mailbox that is the time-travel key to the story.

An anxious Kate waits by the mailbox towards the close of the film.

A romantic ending for the star-struck letter-writers.

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My verdict on the film? I thoroughly enjoyed it, great big romantic softie that I am.

Well, what else would you expect from a songwriting poet!

In fact, I enjoyed it enough to want to watch it aagin, so there! If you get the chance to see this movie then I would recommend it, but don't expect special effects to blow your mind. The film is far too gentle for that.

The face of Islamic Extremism on display in Luton (UK)

Today the Media have displayed the contorted image of Islamic Extremism in Britain which has once again reared its hate-fuelled face in the demonstration against the soldiers of the 2nd Battalion Royal Anglican Regiment. Added to the insults hurled yesterday which, although the perpetrators may claim were aimed at the returning troops, were in fact insults which affect every decent man, woman and child of the nation, was the smug face of the protesters spokesman, Anjem Choudary, on the GMTV this morning, barely able to conceal his delight at being granted such a prominent platform to air his unacceptable and racist views. He argued that he was born in Britain, as though that gave him some sort of right to foment hatred against other Britons, yet the truth of the matter is that had the position been reversed it would have had very different consequences.

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Two people, whose anger at the Islamic hatred-inspired placards and chants of the protesters, were arrested, whilst the police gave protection to this chanting hate-filled mob. The more that people like this are allowed to foist their particular brand of poison on the nation then the harder it is to distinguish anything good in the cause of Islam, for they represent all that is Islamic to vast swathes of the populace.

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Had the demonstration taken place in an Islamic country, particularly bearing in mind what the extremist on GMTV said about most Islamic countries being dictatorships, then it is not difficult to imagine the outcome. Had such a protest by a Christian group based in Iran been made against, for example, the Islamic fundamentalists who orchestrated the London bombings, 9/11, the Mumbai atrocities, and many, many more such events, then it is almost certain that the protesters would have been dispatched to their deaths without mercy and in great haste.

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When will Western nations wake up to the fact that the aim of the Islamic fundamentalists is the Islamification of the world, and that nothing will be allowed to stand in their way, all ends being considered acceptable. Is it not time to root out the canker that has been allowed to develop in the midst of the Western nations once and for all. If these people do not like the Western nations that have either spawned them or homed them then the best thing they could do is to go and live in an Islamic nation and practise their hatred there.

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Of course, I realise that my comments are not politically correct in a nation that has cowed down to the bullying tactics of these terror-inspiring extremists. Should I be afraid? Well, the answer is that 'when good men do nothing then evil flourishes', and I for one cannot simply roll over with my belly exposed and submit to the pressures that these people continually attempt to apply to the nation as a whole. It's high time that the Government acted in a positive way to put a stop to these people. If the European Law of Human Rights --- otherwise known as the Criminals Charter --- is continually used to protect these extremists then it's time that this nation renounced such a flawed Law and reverted to the Law of Common Sense.

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I should point out that despite the hatred expressed against so many people, I do not hate these people in any way whatsoever. I do, however, despise their actions and condemn any doctrine which foments hatred and violence as being totally unacceptable. It would be so easy to say that these extremists represent all that Islam is, but of course, as with extremists of any persuasion, that is not the case.

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One of the benefits of living in a democracy rather than in a totalitarian regime is that there is freedom of speech, and that is the freedom that extremists such as those who formed yesterday's demonstration abuse with such expertise. Of course, conversely, should you protest at the demonstraters abusive behaviour then you will perhaps be led to believe that you do, after all, live under totalitarian rule, for, as yesterday proved, it is likely that you will be the one arrested rather than those who have incited the populace in the first instance.

Another day of blessings to be thankful for . . .

It's a bit of a grey start to the day this morning, but there is a brightness doing its best to come through the cloud. How easy it would be to only see the greyness, missing out on all that lies beyond. Just a couple of months ago the gardens were looking bare, resting up through the winter, but now there are flowers coming in to bloom everywhere. Crocus and snowdrops abound, and lots of daffodils have been out for a while. The picture above was taken last year at Lake Vyrnwy in Wales, and is a scene that is repeated year in, year out, delighting visitors to the area and reminding them of the continuity of life and the blessings that God pours into our lives constantly.

One of the things that I love about the natural world is that no matter how many times I visit places of beauty they always look fresh and new. This reminds me also that the things that God blesses us with are always fresh and new as well, no matter how many times we might receive them. It's like the blessing of the Exiles in the Wilderness. God gave them fresh manna every day to feed on, and I'm sure that each new day they were as thankful as the day previous. He gives us bread every day to sustain our souls, and to obtain it all we need to do is to turn to His Word and feed upon it. Jesus said, "I am the bread of life ..." The blessings that we receive from God's Word help us in our daily walk with Jesus.

One of the first things that I do each morning is to check out the latest news and find out what is going on in the world. It helps to maintain my interest in the world around me, an important factor in being able to share in the things that matter to others. Through the news we are able to feel the whole gamut of emotions, depending what the main stories are, knowing that we share the feelings with others.

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If the news in the media can affect us so much, how much more can the good news contained in the Bible do for us. The good news of the Gospel message that Jesus brought into the world is good news for everyone, not just a section of the population. No matter what race or ethnic group, or even what religious group, people belong to, the good news of Salvation through Christ is there for every person on earth. Now that really is good news!

Spend at least part of today reflecting on the blessings in your life. You'll be surprised just how many there are. In fact, if you try to count them then you'll soon run out of fingers and toes to add up on! I think that the song written by Johnson Oatman Jr. sums it up.

Count Your Blessings

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,

When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,

Count your many blessings, name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Count your blessings, name them one by one,

Count your blessings, see what God hath done!

Count your blessings, name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

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Are you ever burdened with a load of care?

Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?

Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,

And you will keep singing as the days go by.
Count your blessings, name them one by one,

Count your blessings, see what God hath done!

Count your blessings, name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

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When you look at others with their lands and gold,

Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;

Count your many blessings. Wealth can never buy

Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.
Count your blessings, name them one by one,

Count your blessings, see what God hath done!

Count your blessings, name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

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So, amid the conflict whether great or small,

Do not be disheartened, God is over all;

Count your many blessings, angels will attend,

Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.
Count your blessings, name them one by one,

Count your blessings, see what God hath done!

Count your blessings, name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Emynau Cymraeg Newydd / New Welsh Hymns

Six more of my hymns have just been translated into Welsh, and they are now on the Sheer Joy Music website. You can get to that by clicking on the name on the list on the right-hand side of this blog, or by going via this link straight to the relevant page.

The translations have been done by Eirlys Gruffydd, and are excellent interpretations of my work. At present she is busy working on the next half-dozen. Plans are afoot to hopefully record a choir singing a selection of these hymns, probably early next year.

We know that people from around the world are on the lookout for new Welsh hymns, and so I hope that these will help to fill the gap a little. Sing them --- Enjoy them --- Worship through them!

A Great Story: 'An Old Man and the Dog'

The following came in to me by email today. I thought it was well worth sharing the story with you, dear reader.
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The Old Man and the Dog
by Catherine Moore
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"Watch out! You nearly broad sided that car!" My father yelled at me. "Can't you do anything right?" Those words hurt worse than blows. I turned my head toward the elderly man in the seat beside me, daring me to challenge him. A lump rose in my throat as I averted my eyes. I wasn't prepared for another battle.
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"I saw the car, Dad. Please don't yell at me when I'm driving." My voice was measured and steady, sounding far calmer than I really felt. Dad glared at me, then turned away and settled back At home I left Dad in front of the television and went outside to collect my thoughts. Dark, heavy clouds hung in the air with a promise of rain. The rumble of distant thunder seemed to echo my inner turmoil.
What could I do about him? Dad had been a lumberjack in Washington and Oregon .. He had enjoyed being outdoors and had revelled in pitting his strength against the forces of nature. He had entered gruelling lumberjack competitions, and had placed often. The shelves in his house were filled with trophies that attested to his prowess.
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The years marched on relentlessly. The first time he couldn't lift a heavy log, he joked about it; but later that same day I saw him outside alone, straining to lift it. He became irritable whenever anyone teased him about his advancing age, or when he couldn't do something he had done as a younger man.
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Four days after his sixty-seventh birthday, he had a heart attack. An ambulance sped him to the hospital while a paramedic administered CPR to keep blood and oxygen flowing. At the hospital, Dad was rushed into an operating room. He was lucky; he survived. But something inside Dad died. His zest for life was gone. He obstinately refused to follow doctor's orders. Suggestions and offers of help were turned aside with sarcasm and insults. The number of visitors thinned, then finally stopped altogether. Dad was left alone.
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My husband, Dick, and I asked Dad to come live with us on our small farm. We hoped the fresh air and rustic atmosphere would help him adjust. Within a week after he moved in, I regretted the invitation. It seemed nothing was satisfactory. He criticized everything I did. I became frustrated and moody. Soon I was taking my pent-up anger out on Dick. We began to bicker and argue.
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Alarmed, Dick sought out our pastor and explained the situation. The clergyman set up weekly counselling appointments for us At the close of each session he prayed, asking God to soothe Dad's troubled mind. But the months wore on and God was silent.
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Something had to be done and it was up to me to do it. The next day I sat down with the phone book and methodically called each of the mental health clinics listed in the Yellow Pages. I explained my problem to each of the sympathetic voices that answered in vain. Just when I was giving up hope, one of the voices suddenly exclaimed, "I just read something that might help you! Let me go get the article." I listened as she read. The article described a remarkable study done at a nursing home. All of the patients were under treatment for chronic depression. Yet their attitudes had improved dramatically when they were given responsibility for a dog.
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I drove to the animal shelter that afternoon. After I filled out a questionnaire, a uniformed officer led me to the kennels. The odour of disinfectant stung my nostrils as I moved down the row of pens. Each contained five to seven dogs. Long-haired dogs, curly-haired dogs, black dogs, spotted dogs all jumped up, trying to reach me. I studied each one but rejected one after the other for various reasons too big, too small, too much hair. As I neared the last pen a dog in the shadows of the far corner struggled to his feet, walked to the front of the run and sat down. It was a pointer, one of the dog world's aristocrats. But this was a caricature of the breed. Years had etched his face and muzzle with shades of gray. His hipbones jutted out in lopsided triangles. But it was his eyes that caught and held my attention. Calm and clear, they beheld me unwaveringly. I pointed to the dog. "Can you tell me about him?" The officer looked, then shook his head in puzzlement. "He's a funny one. Appeared out of nowhere and sat in front of the gate. We brought him in, figuring someone would be right down to claim him. That was two weeks ago and we've heard nothing. His time is up tomorrow." He gestured helplessly. As the words sank in I turned to the man in horror. "You mean you're going to kill him?" "Ma'am," he said gently, "that's our policy. We don't have room for every unclaimed dog." I looked at the pointer again. The calm brown eyes awaited my decision. "I'll take him," I said.
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I drove home with the dog on the front seat beside me. When I reached the house I honked the horn twice. I was helping my prize out of the car when Dad shuffled onto the front porch. "Ta-da! Look what I got for you, Dad!" I said excitedly. Dad looked, then wrinkled his face in disgust. "If I had wanted a dog I would have gotten one. And I would have picked out a better specimen than that bag of bones. Keep it! I don't want it" Dad waved his arm scornfully and turned back toward the house.
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Anger rose inside me. It squeezed together my throat muscles and pounded into my temples. "You'd better get used to him, Dad. He's staying!" Dad ignored me. "Did you hear me, Dad?" I screamed. At those words Dad whirled angrily, his hands clenched at his sides, his eyes narrowed and blazing with hate. We stood glaring at each other like duellists, when suddenly the pointer pulled free from my grasp. He wobbled toward my dad and sat down in front of him. Then slowly, carefully, he raised his paw. Dad's lower jaw trembled as he stared at the uplifted paw. Confusion replaced the anger in his eyes. The pointer waited patiently. Then Dad was on his knees hugging the animal. It was the beginning of a warm and intimate friendship. Dad named the pointer Cheyenne . Together he and Cheyenne explored the community. They spent long hours walking down dusty lanes. They spent reflective moments on the banks of streams, angling for tasty trout. They even started to attend Sunday services together, Dad sitting in a pew and Cheyenne lying quietly at his feet.
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Dad and Cheyenne were inseparable throughout the next three years. Dad's bitterness faded, and he and Cheyenne made many friends. Then late one night I was startled to feel Cheyenne 's cold nose burrowing through our bed covers. He had never before come into our bedroom at night. I woke Dick, put on my robe and ran into my father's room. Dad lay in his bed, his face serene. But his spirit had left quietly sometime during the night.
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Two days later my shock and grief deepened when I discovered Cheyenne lying dead beside Dad's bed. I wrapped his still form in the rag rug he had slept on. As Dick and I buried him near a favourite fishing hole, I silently thanked the dog for the help he had given me in restoring Dad's peace of mind. The morning of Dad's funeral dawned overcast and dreary. This day looks like the way I feel, I thought, as I walked down the aisle to the pews reserved for family. I was surprised to see the many friends Dad and Cheyenne had made filling the church.
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The pastor began his eulogy. It was a tribute to both Dad and the dog who had changed his life. And then the pastor turned to Hebrews 13:2. "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it." "I've often thanked God for sending that angel," he said.
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For me, the past dropped into place, completing a puzzle that I had not seen before: the sympathetic voice that had just read the right article... Cheyenne 's unexpected appearance at the animal shelter … his calm acceptance and complete devotion to my father. . and the proximity of their deaths. And suddenly I understood. I knew that God had answered my prayers after all.
Life is too short for drama & petty things, so laugh hard, love truly and forgive quickly. Live While You Are Alive. Forgive now those who made you cry. You might not get a second time

Friend, Protector, Saviour!

Friend, Protector, Saviour!

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'I will never leave you, nor forsake you'

Hebrews 13.5

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One of the worst things that many people have to face is the problem of loneliness. Every now and then I hear about someone who is struggling, having moved to a new area where they new nobody, and soon, unless they can resolve the situation, depression sets in and gradually takes over their lives, or at least a major portion of them.

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It's not the time spent at work that's the problem because there they have people around them and plenty to keep them busy. No, it's the time spent in their new homes, no matter how small or how large the home might be. It's a fact that people can be just as lonely in a large and luxurious home as they can in a one-roomed bedsit. So how can you address the problem in a meaningful way. It's easy to suggest that they go out to where there are lots of people, and places such as the local pub or cinema or dance hall often get suggested with the best intentions. Yet the reality is that often for people who are suffering from loneliness places where there are lots of other people only serve to emphasise the loneliness, not offer any sort of cure for it.

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I recall a time just over forty-four years ago when I had to face this problem myself. Struggling to come to terms with a relationship that was badly wrong I used to walk the city streets in the middle of the night as I tried to reason out everything and find solutions that, in reality, simply didn't exist for various reasons. I remember the tremendous waves of loneliness that would sweep over me as I trudged along the pavements. On one particular occasion it was raining and the street-lights created distorted images on the pavements. I was particularly low that night and decided that I should go into a church and sit quietly. Even though I had not committed my life to the Lord at that time nevertheless I was very spiritually minded and knew that I could seek answers in the silence of the church. It was almost a desire to return to the womb in many ways, a place of sanctuary where I would be safe.

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I found a church nearby where I was walking. That was an easy matter. Unfortunately the gates were chained up and so sanctuary was denied me. I remember the thought that people had either locked God in or, as was more likely, they had locked God out. The rain seemed to confirm the sadness of the whole situation.

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Well, needless to say, I did eventually come through that period of my life, and I learned much from it. If only I had been a committed Christian at that point. I could have held on to God's promise contained in Hebrews, I will never leave you nor forsake you.

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I have moved both home and location many times since then, even moving countries when I went to live in Africa for many years, and yet have never had to face the problems of loneliness throughout. Each time that I moved one of the first things that I did was to seek out a Christian community where I knew that I would always receive a 'family' welcome. Joining a church meant that I would meet up with people who had similar ideas about living as I did, and if the first church that I went to didn't seem to be the right one there was always another to go to.

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I committed my life to Christ in September 1969 and my life was changed for ever. That's not to say that it has all been perfect! Of course I've had my share of problems, of worries, of pain, just the same as everyone does, but I have never had to face life alone, for I have known that God is always there. In committing my life to Christ I found the promise of forgiveness and salvation that was mine to claim, but I found far more than that. I found out just what a friend we have in Jesus, (to take the title of a favourite hymn). He is Saviour, friend and protector. With Him my life has been fulfilled in so many ways. Without Him I would have been by far the poorer! Not only that, but I also have the promise of the hope of Eternity with Him. What more could I ask for?

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If you know anyone who is feeling low or suffering from loneliness, dear reader, why not share the truths of Holy Scripture with them in a loving and caring way, and introduce them to the friend that offers far more than simple friendship.

New CD from Alan Watson & Sheer Joy Music

Sheer Joy Music have just released a new CD featuring the popular Runcorn singer Alan Watson accompanied by his wife Blodwin. The CD, The Two of us Sing Praises!, has many old favourites including 'The Sands of Time', 'He Was There All the Time', 'Jesu, Joy of Loving Hearts', and 'How Great Thou Art'.

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Recorded originally several years ago, the recordings have been digitally remastered by the Sheer Joy Music wizards. A great CD to buy as a gift for family and friends, or simply as a gift for yourself, this will soon have you singing along with Alan and Blodwin as you decide which of your favourites you like them singing best of all.

Forgiveness

The woman spoke quietly, the bitterness still fresh in her heart and on her tongue, "I'll never forgive him as long as I live."

When she went to bed at night the last thing she thought of was the betrayal of trust and her determination that she would never forgive him. When she woke up in the morning, often after a restless, sleep-disturbed night, the same thought was there in the forefront of her mind, making her more determined than ever about her resolve to harbour the grudge and deny forgiveness.

The weeks went by and soon turned into months and then years, and it was the same thing, the same thoughts, the same determination, every single day, "I'll never forgive him!" And as the time passed she became more and more unhappy with her life, little realising that this unforgiving thought had grown so large that it had taken over her whole life. The bitterness grew larger and larger inside her like a cancer, gradually consuming the loving and caring person that she'd once been. It was not long before she turned away from mirrors because she hated the bitter, downcast reflection that stared back at her from the glass. As the bitterness ate away inside her so the depression covered her like a swirling grey mist, blinding her to the beauty of life and living.

She never learned the most important lesson that would have changed her life for ever. The lesson that would have brought back the brightness, the caring and the love. The one simple fact that bitterness attacks the person who harbours it, not the person against whom it's aimed. If only she'd known that one thing. If only someone had explained that without being forgiving we can never expect to be forgiven ourselves.

Sometimes people harbour grudges for so long that they forget what started them in the end. It pervades every area of their lives, seeping out into conversations and turning the colour of our lives a little greyer each time that we think about it or mention it. in the end, the greyness gets darker and darker until it turns to blackness.

The good news is that there is a way out of the darkness. The first thing is to bring the offending thoughts out into the open. Let the grudges and the bitterness face the light of day. Once you have done that, focus on the cause and then forgive those responsible. Sometimes you will be able to forgive them face to face, sometimes the bitter hurt will go back so far that you are unable to for some reason. Maybe the person has moved away and you have no idea where they are; maybe they have died. Whatever the situation, in your heart you can forgive them. Once you have gone through this cleansing action of forgiving then you are able to seek forgiveness for yourself for all the things that you have done wrong, including harbouring the bitterness that you have had throughout the months or years.

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Christ died on the Cross at Calvary in order that we might find forgiveness. Because we are all sinners, yes dear reader, every single one of us, including you and me, we all need the forgiveness that can only come through Him --- God's forgiveness. It's there for everyone to claim, but we must have forgiving hearts if we are to receive forgiveness ourselves.

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Let today be a new start. Let today be the day that you forgive everyone that you hold a grudge against. Let today be the day that you seek and find forgiveness in your own life. There is only one place to find true forgiveness and that is at the foot of the Cross, so why not turn to Jesus Christ in prayer today and seek the forgiveness that only comes through Him. With that forgiveness comes reconciliation. Reconciliation with God, reconciliation with others, and reconciliation with yourself.

In a Country Churchyard

Names upon some gravestones
Reflecting tender years,
Make me wonder sadly
At those who mourned with tears.
Tears of grief and sadness,
Of sorrow and of pain,
That meant no joy and laughter
Would ever come again.

Lichen-covered monuments
Reach upwards to the sky,
Like fingers pointing heavenward,
To tell where loved ones lie.
Etched upon the tablets,
Now worn away with time,
Telling tales of lost loves
In wistful, longing rhyme.

People, long-forgotten,
Now naught but dust and bone,
Resting in eternal peace,
Lying there alone.
Yet all that really mattered,
That made them in this life,
Returned now to their Maker,
Freed from pain and strife.
© Colin Gordon-Farleigh 2007

Thinking of a Cornish Holiday once more.

Although it's bright and sunny outside it's far too cold for my liking, so I shall do what I often do when the weather is cold --- think about holidays once again. This year we'll be going to Wales again, spending a week in Pembrokeshire, but Cornwall has been calling us to visit its warm climate once again,and so I guess that maybe where we'll head for in the not too distant future, even if it's just for a few days break.

One of the places that we are particularly fond of is the quaintly named fishing village of Mousehole. We've been there for our holidays a couple of times in the last few years. The photograph above is of Mousehole harbour, and it was taken when we were there in 2006 on our holidays.

New Meditation from Joanne Lowe : 'We Can Give Them Love'

Most of us are affected in one way or another by the global economic crisis, and like every time of crisis it is a time when our faith can be tested, in some instances to the very edge. Yet it is at times of testing that we have the opportunity to grow stronger. In today's Meditation, Joanne Lowe addresses the problem of what to give when we seem to be materially poorer.

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WE CAN GIVE THEM LOVE

“Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.”

Acts 3: 6 (King James Version)

We are going through a very serious economic crisis. Mothers are broken hearted because they can’t buy everything they want to buy their children. Dads are discouraged because they don’t have the money to buy as much food for their families as they did before. There is one thing we can give our children that doesn’t cost anything; we can give them love.

Even if we have all of the money in the world to buy things for our families and friends but don’t give them unconditional love and forgiveness, we are failing them. Not only are we failing them; we are hurting Jesus. Remember, if we are kind and loving to people, we are kind and loving to Jesus. If we are mean and cruel to people, we are mean and cruel to Jesus.

Are you giving your family and friends unconditional love? Do you forgive them when they hurt you? If we are refusing to forgive people and we are not loving them unconditionally, then we need to ask Jesus to please forgive us and allow Him to sweep all of the bitterness, the resentment, the jealousy and unforgiveness from our hearts with His broom of correction.

How dare we continue to harbor unforgiveness in our hearts for those who have hurt us when Jesus forgives us when we hurt Him. May God have mercy on us for refusing to forgive people when they hurt us. Loving one another is not an option; it is a commandment from Jesus. Are you loving people as Jesus has commanded you to love them?

Joanne Lowe
March 5, 2009
joannelowe8@cox.net
http://hesetmefreeforever.blogspot.com/

Another Great Read . . .

Last week I attended a Day Seminar at Coleg Trefecca, a Training and Retreat Centre which is part of our denomination. There were about thirty of us there to listen to Rev Dr John Morgans who recently retired from full-time ministry, and who has published a new book under the title Journey of a Lifetime.

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John Morgans is a Diarist. He explained how he had been given a Lett's Diary as a Christmas present when he was 12 years old, and had carefully kept a diary every year since then. His book is a selection of those diary entries throughout the years, and gives a fascinating insight into the workings of his mind, the choices that he was led to make, and the events, people and places that were of the greatest influence in his life. Now 70 years old, you can imagine the wealth of material that the intervening years have provided. The book follows John's life from his days as a schoolboy in Tylerstown, as a student , and as a minister responsible for shepherding the flocks entrusted to him in Wales up until his retirement in 2004. The diary extracts cover a period of 52 years and are selected from a massive five million words.

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Like the others who attended the seminar, I was enthralled by the stories that unfolded, providing as they did an historical glimpse into the past sixty years (almost). He was an easy speaker to listen to and, to some extent because of the personal nature of the book's contents, he made the whole thing come to life. Transported to the mining and industrial past of the Welsh Valleys we may have been, but it was a transport of delight. We shared for a while the path that John had trod as he journeyed and laboured for the Lord, and what a walk that turned out to be.

Here was a man who was passionate about his love of the Lord and about the work that he was called to do, and that passion was shared by his wife Norah, and one got the impression, by their children too.

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This will be a book that sits by my bedside for a long time to come, not to be read continuously, but rather dipped into and savoured night after night. Both John and Norah Morgans received the OBE in 1995 for their tireless work amongst the poorer communities of Wales, notably at Penrhys in the Rhondda. Despite the prestige of receiving such an accolade i have the impression that they will both value the words of our Lord one day much more, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant".

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John claimed that he was privileged to have the opportunity to share his memories with us. I, however, feel that it was us who were the privileged ones for having the opportunity to hear them, to share them, and to live them through him.

Walking With Jesus

This morning an old friend from my days in Zimbabwe was brought to the forefront of my mind, and along with him came so many memories from those now distant days. Distant, yes, but not forgotten by any means. The faces of friends from those days are in my head now as I write my blog this morning, and along with the faces come a multitude of memories, fresh from their wrappers, so to speak. This particular friend is a guy named (Rev) Chris Goppert, and Chris works through TEAM Ministries in Zimbabwe. It was always good to be around him and to share in his walk with the Lord, for it was always a faith-improving experience. The years have sped by since I left in 1984, and in fact I guess that it was about 1980 that I last saw Chris, and so much has happened since then. We are both Grandfathers for a start! Anyway, I have emailed him this morning and hope to enjoy fresh contact with him and have the opportunity for us to each update the other.


Thinking about Chris reminds me of so many friends from my days in Rhodesia/Zimbabwe between arriving in August 1972 and leaving in March 1984. Although my Christian walk began in the UK in 1969 when I handed my life over to the Lord, it was in Rhodesia that it developed in a real and meaningful way, for it was there that, in 1972, I enrolled in the membership of my first church since becoming a Christian. I belonged to the Fife Avenue Baptist Church, a church which had a congregation of all age groups, and which was a lively experience. The folk there were a really friendly bunch and very committed Christians. The Youth Pastor was a young guy by the name of Kevin McGuiness, and he was a good friend to me in those days. One morning Kevin and I met in my office, each eager to share a vision that we had been given during the night, yet the contents of which were unknown to each other. I remember that the air was electric! Who should speak first?


In the end Kevin insisted that, as I had called him before he'd had a chance to call me, I should go first. I shared the vision that I'd been given with him, explaining that I felt that the Lord was calling for a new church to be planted, a daughter to the one that we belonged to, and that He was calling me to be involved in the planting of that church. WOW! If the air was electric before I spoke it was explosive afterwards! Kevin then shared with me that the Lord had shown him in a vision that a daughter church should be planted in the Hillside area of the city and my name was one of the names that Kevin had been given to be actively involved in the planting. Isn't it wonderful the way that God works! here for both of us was not only a call to do something specific, but also the confirmation that the call was from God.


Soon afterwards, the main church having commissioned us, we went out with a couple of other young people and knocked on the doors of the neighbourhood. The whole thing was strongly underpinned with prayer, not only our own prayer but those of the church as a whole. I remember the trepidation with which I knocked on my first door, wondering what sort of reception I would be given, and the joy with which I left that house after being welcomed so warmly, and such interest being shown in what we were doing. It was the same for all of us, and it was not too long before Hillside Baptist Church was formed, and our meetings begun on a Sunday morning in the local school. The church grew from strength to strength, mostly with young people attending. I was one of the older members, being about 34 at the time! I don't now whether it's still going strong, but I hope that it is.


It was in 1975 when I first felt that I was being called to serve in full-time Ministry, although it was not until 1998 that the call was finally fulfilled. Not that I was idle along the way! Prior to entering Theological College in Aberystwyth, West Wales, I had spent about ten years with a very full diary ministering to churches in Mid-Wales and on the Welsh/English border, preaching at a total of 31 different churches through the course of each year, and leading the worship at least twice on a Sunday and often three times, even occasionally four times, although the latter was to help cover for my own Pastor who was unwell for a period. Yes, it was often tiring, but always the Lord sustained me to proceed with His work. Looking back, the only regrets that I might have would be that I couldn't do more, yet as I placed myself firmly in God's hands each day I could always accept that I did as He wanted me to. That didn't always stop me being impatient though!

I'm currently reading . . . .

The Lost Village, by Richard Askwith

If there is one type of book that I enjoy in particular it's a book about the countryside and all that the genre implies, and so the book that's currently my bedside companion for reading my way through last thing at night, The Lost Village, is a great read as far as I'm concerned. Not only does Richard Askwith note the changing of the countryside and the losing of so much of that which was once familiar and commonplace, but he does so through a series of interviews, recollections and observations, all of which bond the pages together into what is, for me certainly, a 'must-read' book.
Perhaps part of the book's attraction is that it not only charts the countryside of the past that has already been lost or is on the point of extinction, but looks closely at the changing face of today's countryside. When I was a boy, more than fifty years ago now, going to school in the countryside invariably meant attending the village school; going to the shop meant a trip to the village emporium where you could get anything from a postage stamp to a ball of string, a pound of cheese to a newspaper. In addition to the plethora of items that were available for purchase there was also one other important commodity, and that was the opportunity to chat with neighbours and friends whilst on the way there and back and whilst in the shop. The Postmistress/Shopkeeper was invariably everyone's confidant, and the keeper of the secrets of the village. That has now all-but gone for ever.

Today the buildings that formed the heart of Village Community life , the Post Office, the School, the Shop, tied cottages, pubs, and often the Church as well, have been converted into houses for people whose income allows them the luxury of dwelling in a village without actually living I in it in any real sense. In his book, Richard Askwith comments on the ludicrous situation of a farm-worker who commutes from his council house to work on the land each day, his tied cottage having been sold off, passing, as he commutes, the solicitor who has bought the cottage and turned it into luxury housing, and who commutes from the cottage to the town each day. Both commuting, yet in opposite directions.

Much of the change has come about in the years since it was decided that a house was not a sanctuary for the the family to grow and evolve in but rather an investment, a construction to be constantly added to and 'improved' (although sometimes the improvements prove highly questionable, and then sold on from one pair of hands to another, each time for a higher and higher price. The sadness of this is that the true villager finds themselves priced out of their own village, often the only option open to them being the few remaining council or housing trust houses that have not been sold into private hands as well. Hand in glove with this whole exercise are the high rents charged to tenants, often making even the rental properties beyond the reach of villagers. The result is that in the average village today you find fewer and fewer inhabitants whose have roots stretching back more than a decade or two, apart that is, from the inhabitants who slumber in the church and chapel graveyards.

I often write in this blog about the Corsham of my youth, the village-minded town in which I grew up. With its Precinct and Car-parks, and the changes in general to the appearance of the town, although it contains the outward appearance of the familiar buildings, the change to the heart of the town is drastic enough to make it unrecognisable in many ways.

Perhaps what we long for is the security of the familiar in these days of all-too often unwelcome change. Whatever the reason for the popularity of books and articles about 'lost' village life and the loss of the village craftsmen, there is a refuge of sorts to be found in books such as Askwith's, even if the refuge is a false one, created only in the mind of the reader as a sop to his memory.

More Good Books

Labour of Love in Liverpool
D Ben Rees
Published by: Modern Welsh Publications (288 Pages)
UK Price: £15.00
ISBN 978 0901332 905

This is the 63rd volume edited or written by my friend and fellow Minister in the Presbyterian Church of Wales, Dr D Ben Rees, and traces the history of Bethel, Heathfield Road Chapel, Liverpool 15, and the experiences of the members of Smithdown Place Schoolroom, Webster Road Chapel, Ramilies Road schoolroom, Heathfield Road and Bethel chapels.

All in all, this excellent book traces the history of the Welsh language churches mentioned above. Packed with photographs, Dr Rees explores in great detail the history of what might be called the ‘Welsh Diaspora’, as husbands, sons, fathers and brothers, left the hills and valleys of their beloved homeland from 1770 onwards, seeking employment in England. The increasingly affluent Port of Liverpool drew men in their hundreds with the increasing prosperity of the City bringing with it the promise of employment and riches for those prepared to work hard. The Welsh, with a history of hard work grounded in the mines, quarries and hill-farms of the Principality.

Despite learning English, no simple task for many, there was a great spiritual hunger that needed to be satisfied by hearing God’s Word in their own language, and this created in them the desire to build and worship in their own chapels, independent of others. As Dr Rees points out in the very first chapter, these young Welsh men and women did not desire a building that would cater for their spiritual needs for an hour or two on a Sunday, but a building that would be open to them every night of the week, a home from home.

This is far more than simply a historical record of a people. It has been written from the heart, and you can sense the very soul of the people, their desires, joys and sorrows pulsing through the pages. After reading this book and exploring the many pages of photographs I defy anyone not to be stirred by the passion of the people who grace the pages through Dr Rees’ eloquent writing.

This book is highly recommended, not only for all those interested in the history of the Welsh in Liverpool, but also those who seek to understand a little more about the spiritual hunger that motivates God’s people.

Fire in the Thatch
Eifion Evans
Published by: Evangelical Press of Wales (234 Pages)
ISBN 1 85049 119 4
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Eifion Evans has written extensively on the subject of Revival, and in this volume he explores the true nature of Religious Revival, and seeks to answer many of the questions that come naturally to those who seek to understand exactly what Revival is all about.

It is perhaps by studying how Revival came in the past, and how it was manifested, that we can best prepare ourselves for a new work of the Holy Spirit in our own times. Evans looks at the great Welsh Revival preachers such as Griffith Jones of Llandowror, John Davies of Tahiti, Dafydd Morgan of Cardiganshire, and others.

Reading through this excellent recounting of the power of God’s presence and the manner in which it has manifested itself to earlier generations helps to create for the modern-day Christian a desire for a closer relationship with God today, and a thirst for a new visitation by the Holy Spirit.

That Revival is desperately needed today is without question. The state of the world is such that it is needed throughout, but the state of our land in particular demands that we all seek the coming of God upon it once again, not like a gentle breeze but like a roaring tempest.

Revival Comes to Wales
Eifion Evans
Published by: Evangelical Press of Wales (131 Pages)
ISBN 1 85049 025 2
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If you are interested in the history of Revival, particularly of Revival in Wales, then your bookshelf would be empty without this book about the 1859 Welsh Revival. It was originally published in 1959 under the title When He Comes, and has been reprinted on many occasions since.

Wales has been called ’The Land of Revivals’ and so when Revival broke out in 1859 it was, as Eifion Evans points out at the beginning of this fascinating book, neither a new or strange phenomenon. Between 1762 and 1862 there had been at least fifteen notable periods of Revival, each with its own characteristics, each serving the period in which they arose. In this book the author explores the background, the prayerful preparation, the men of vision whom God used to bring about Revival, the passage of events and the fruit that ensued as a result.

(Although currently out of print, this book is available second-hand if you search for it.)

Today's Meditations from Joanne Lowe

Here is the meditation received from Joanne Lowe this morning, which I'm pleased to share with you, dear reader. I pray that it will bless you today.

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IT’S HOW WE LIVE OUR LIVES

“Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.”
Ezekiel 3: 17 - 19 (King James Version)

Jesus has told us that we are to warn others about the results of living a wicked and sinful life. However, He did not tell us to criticize them. We are not to have a “holier than thou” attitude. Every one of us who claims to be a Christian is just a sinner saved by grace. None of us are perfect and the person who claims to be perfect is deceiving himself or herself. There was only one perfect person who ever lived or ever will live and His name is Jesus.

There is a hell just as there is a Heaven. If we want to win our loved ones to Jesus, we will only do it by loving them and by the way we live our lives. Yes, we are to tell them that if they are not saved, if they have not made a heart commitment to Jesus, then they will go to hell and spend all eternity in hell with satan. After we tell them that, we shouldn’t keep preaching to them. We must let them see the difference that Jesus can make in a person’s life by the way we live. If they don’t see a difference in the way we live our lives, we will not be able to lead them to Jesus.

Does your family see the difference Jesus has made in your heart and in your life or do you still act like you did before Jesus saved you? Jesus has said that we will be held responsible if we don’t warn them about the danger of hell but we must prove to them that Jesus can make a difference in our hearts and lives by the way we live. It’s how we live our lives that will lead others to Jesus. How are you living your life? Do you forgive people when they hurt you or do you still harbor unforgiveness in your heart? You can’t expect God to forgive you if you refuse to forgive the ones who hurt you.

When Jesus looks into your heart, what does He see? Does He see the things that bring joy and happiness to Him or does He see things that bring sadness to Him? Again, it’s how we live our lives that will lead others to accept Jesus into their hearts as their personal Saviour. I urge all of us to live our lives in such a way that our families, our friends and the world will see the difference Jesus has made in our hearts and in our lives.

Joanne Lowe
February 27, 2009
joannelowe8@cox.net

Things I remember from my Corsham childhood . . .

It's strange how memories from childhood pop into your head when least expected, bringing people, places and situations back from the past into the forefront of your mind. Sometimes I find myself drifting in and out of sleep in the middle of the night, with my shambled thoughts suddenly clearing and placing an event from decades ago into my head once again.

They say that as children we have minds that act like sponges, soaking up everything that we see, hear and experience, and that everything is stored away in our memories for ever. As we get older so it seems that we forget things, but the reality is that we perhaps lose the ability to unlock the store-cupboard that holds our memories. Occasionally it's as if someone comes along to peek inside and a few memories slip out. Then, with the suddenness of a pistol shot, we recall an event that happened perhaps fifty years or more ago with such clarity that it might have been only yesterday. Mind you, sometimes we recall things that we think happened decades ago with that clarity and then finally discover that they did indeed happen yesterday!

Last night I recalled an incident from childhood that occurred when I was about ten or eleven as far as I recall. Together with my friends Henry and Richard, (almost inseparable, like the Three Musketeers), we were playing in the large car-park that was bordered by the entrance to Corsham Court, St Bartholomew's Church, a small copse and the railings that led into Corsham park, the latter being part of the Corsham Court Estate. The park featured throughout my childhood in so many ways, for it was there that I played out various games with my friends, there that, as an introspective teenager, I communed with nature, and it was there that I worked on the farm whenever the opportunity arose in my teenage years.

Anyway, back to my story. On this occasion we were joined after a while by Robin A... whose parents ran the Post Office, the family living on the premises which lay at the beginning of the row of houses known as the Flemish Buildings, and opposite the imposing Town Hall. As often happens with small boys, we felt that he was a bit of an annoyance, muscling in our games. On this occasion we decided to teach him a lesson that would keep him out of our way in the future, and pinning him against the railings we held a dampened handkerchief over his mouth and convinced him that the dampness was caused by chloroform! As soon as he was released he ran the two hundred yards or so home and reported us to his mother.

Let us say that when we got home there was a little present awaiting each of us and that we were persuaded that it had not been a good idea! Mind you, Robin A... never came near us again either, not unsurprisingly!

Those railings featured prominently on another memorable occasion as well, this time the star of the occasion being Henry. Typical of park railings of the time, I guess that these were about three foot nine high and with pointed tips. Henry, in a fit of bravado and showing-off, boldly stated that he could easily jump them, and then he proceeded with his run-up before we could do more than express our doubts and fears at something which was so patently dangerous. Well he ran, he jumped and he cleared them, but only by a hair's-breadth! In those days, like our peers, we wore short trousers, and so close to disaster was Henry's leap that the spikes caught in the legs of his shorts at the back and they ripped down the seams. Henry's family were Scots and dressed the part in kilts when occasion demanded, and on this occasion a somewhat chastened Henry went home fairly rapidly, cloaked by the woods that lay between the park and our houses, his shorts flapping with the speed of his progress like a grey kilt! Needless to say, this was not an exercise that was ever repeated.

I never found out what happened to him when he got home, but I can imagine that it left him with a sore backside!

Sermon on the 23rd Psalm

THE GOOD SHEPHERD

Most people know of the 23rd Psalm, known as the Shepherd's Psalm, having heard it read or sung, often at special services such as weddings or funerals, for it’s a Psalm whose words bring great comfort to people, especially the bereaved.

The Lord is my Shepherd.

These first few words of the Psalm infer that we have received Him into our lives as Saviour. If you have claimed the gift of salvation and acknowledge Jesus as your Lord, then He is your Shepherd.

I shall not want
This phrase speaks of the proper care of the flock Often we are referred to in the Scriptures as ‘the sheep of His pasture.’ Unfortunately, as any good shepherd and farmer will tell you, sheep are not really very smart creatures and are not known for their brains! You need to be able to turn to the Good Shepherd for guidance about all the important matters in your life.

When the psalmist says, I shall not want; he’s not saying that you’ll never want the things that are out there in the world, dangled in front of you by the advertisers. He’s saying that you will never want for the things that God provides. Many years ago I was saved by the stripes of our Lord Jesus Christ. He saved my soul. He provides for all of my needs, and always has done. He cares for me far better than I would ever be capable of caring for myself.

He makes me lie down in green pastures He leads me beside quiet waters

You might think that if you were a sheep you’d want to be on the move eating! However, He makes us lie down and rest. He directs us, knowing what is best for us at all times. Sometimes He says to us, Be still and know that I am God.

Our Shepherd has prepared, does prepare, and is preparing a table for us. A good shepherd will always find the best pasture for his flock, taking care that there are no poisonous weeds and that there is a good supply of pure water. If a shepherd in the earthly sense does so much for the sheep in his care then how much more will our Good Shepherd take care of His flock.

God hasn't saved people just so that they can go to heaven. He wants us to be productive in the kingdom of God.

When the sheep lie down, they begin to digest this green pasture on which they grazed earlier. To be up and moving about in the heat of the day would reduce their productivity. They need to be fat and must lie down for some of the time.

Often we don't obey God. Our Good Shepherd tells us to lie down, but we resist and try to do our own thing. We often find that it’s difficult to be still because our minds are full of the worries and cares of our over-busy lives. But, He is our Shepherd. We should be eager to obey His voice and do His bidding without question or complaint. He always knows what’s best for us and has made provision for us. He will lead us to the still waters from where we can drink our fill.

He restores my soul.

If sheep lie down in one place for too long then they become what is known as cast, and they are unable to get up. They need the help of the shepherd to avoid being left behind. This is another reason why we need to listen and obey the voice of our Good Shepherd.

As Christians we need to always be ready to listen to the still small voice of God that leads and guides us. This is the same voice that brought us to a knowledge of salvation in the first place, the same voice that prompts us every day to do things for others, the same voice that encourages us in our lives, lifting us up to be with Him, When He asks us to do something then we need to obey, so when he says that we should Lie down, we need to lie down. When He says, Get up and do this for Me, then we need to respond immediately. If we try to be our own master - our own shepherd - then we will find that we may become cast and unable to get up in our own strength.

We can be thankful that our God is one who will seek for each one of us if we are lost. Jesus told the story of the lost sheep, the shepherd leaving the ninety-nine safely penned whilst he went to find the one that was lost That lost sheep could easily be me, or you, or one of your immediate family. Aren't you thankful that we have a Shepherd who cares so much about us that He will come and find us? No Christian ever gets into trouble without having heard God calling out to him to stop! No Christian wanders into a state of sin without the Holy Spirit saying No!, over and over. Often, aware of our rebellious natures, God will put things in our way in order to keep us from sin. If you never hear this voice inside you, guiding you, then the bad news is that you haven't given yourself over to Christ, even if you think you have. You haven't yet been saved, even if you think you have. It's quite possible for the devil to have deceived you. You may be doing everything physically right and yet be spiritually dead. If you don't hear God speaking to you, drawing you closer to Him through prayer and longing, then you need to give yourself fully over to His control. Then you'll notice the difference. The change will ignite the fire within you so that you can burn brightly and light the paths of others in His name. If you are a lost sheep what will happen when your Shepherd finds you? Will he scold you for getting lost? No, never! He will pick you up, draw you close to himself and reassure you through His voice and touch. He will calm you, restoring you. He will take you home rejoicing. Our Good Shepherd loves us that much! Don't listen to the devil when he tries to tell you that you don't matter, that you're not important, for everyone is special in the eyes of God. He knows each one of us personally; He loves each one of us personally; He hears each one of us personally. This is the kind of God that we have, of whom the psalmist wrote, He restores my soul.

He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.

God's leading is always in paths which are the right way in His eyes, and which will bring honour and glory to His name. We’re not granted salvation and the opportunity to become followers of Christ in order to swell the attendance of one particular denomination or another. It’s for His name's sake, for we are His children, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17). We have been redeemed by His blood in order that we can bring Glory to God in and through all things.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, l fear no evil; for MY art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.

For a sheep to be at it's most productive it cannot be fearful. The presence of an enemy such as a wolf or a dog can bring fear with it. As Christians we have many enemies. We are walking through the valley of the shadow of death every day of our lives, sensing the fears that abound. Fear of illness, cancer, aids, financial difficulty or even ruin, broken relationships ... the list is endless. All of these things can be used by the devil to reduce our effectiveness in our Christian walk.

When we’re facing problems we have no need to face them alone, for the Good Shepherd will be there with us, comforting and calming us with His presence. If a shepherd steps in amongst his sheep when they are fearful they will start to calm down, knowing that they can trust him to protect them. We need to learn to recognise our Shepherd so that, in times of fear and concern, we do not run this way and that, but run only towards Him. All the peace and protection that we need we will find in the Lord. If the devil tries to tempt you away, promising you a good time, then know that he’s a liar. He’ll stand by and laugh as you weep at the frustration of a life littered with lost opportunities. The promise of Hebrews 13: 5 stands as firm today as it ever did when the Lord promised us: I will never leave you nor forsake you. If you believe it with all of your heart then you will always be able to turn to Him, knowing that His presence is there to comfort you.

Thou dost prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; Thou hast anointed my head with oil and my cup overflow

As a gracious host God has provided us with all that we need, not simply just enough, but in abundance. Just as the shepherd pours oil onto the sheep to deal with the problems of flies and other parasites in order to protect them, so our Good Shepherd will anoint us with the Holy Spirit in order that we might have His protection. It’s this that will help us when the devil comes to us trying to convince us that we’re poor Christians, and trying to drag us down. He doesn't mind you going to church as long as you don't listen to the message, as long as you don't change your life, as long as you don't serve God, as long as you are weak in testimony. He actually likes Christians who are dead because they don’t threaten him. But, the anointing of the Holy Spirit in our lives will enable us to live according to the Spirit and not to follow the weak leading of the flesh. And how worthwhile it is to serve Him. How good it is to know that He is our Shepherd!
Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the House of the Lord for ever.

When we accept Christ's invitation to be with Him then we’re not just visitors for the day. We’re recipients of God's covenant loving-kindness forever. When God provides for us He doesn't look for a place to stop! He provides for us for eternity! Scripture confirms this to us when it says, Surely goodness and loving-kindness will follow me all the days of my life. He will always lead us to green pastures, always to the still waters, that we might eat of the bread of life and drink of the waters of everlasting life for ever. His unchanging love is all the confirmation that we need. We will dwell in the House of the Lord for ever, the place where God is to be found.

Can you read the words of this Psalm to yourself and not be changed. Can you say in truth, The Lord is my shepherd, with conviction and assurance? If you can then you’ll know that you have been saved for eternity, but if not then it’s time to repent and make a confession of faith before Him, receiving Him into your life, letting Him control every aspect of it.

Amen.