Home Sweet Home

 

All photos courtesy of Unsplash

Do you enjoy the warm feeling of being in your home? That assumes, of course, that you have a home, you enjoy being at home, or your home is in a fit state to live in. However, home life can be a nightmare for many people. It is often a place of confrontation, where you are on edge, unsure what will happen next. For others, home just doesn’t exist. It’s a dream, something that, so far, just hasn’t happened for them – couch surfing, shared accommodation or, at worst, they have ended up living on the street. 

 

I’ve been privileged to travel extensively in the last 10 to 15 years. There seemed to be abundant wealth in North America, but despite Uganda being a beautiful country, there is significant poverty. Yet, at the same time, the people are really happy. In Pakistan, for the average person, life is just so hard, and it’s incredible to see what some people call home - tents, etc. Those living in comfortable, safe, dry homes should be grateful and appreciative.

Home

All photos courtesy of Unsplash

Do you enjoy the warm feeling of being in your home? That assumes, of course, that you have a home, you enjoy being at home, or your home is in a fit state to live in. However, home life can be a nightmare for many people. It is often a place of confrontation, where you are on edge as you are not sure what will happen next. For others, home just doesn’t exist. It’s a dream, something that, so far, just hasn’t happened for them – couch surfing, shared accommodation or, at worst, they have ended up living on the street. 

 

I’ve been privileged to travel extensively in the last 10 to 15 years. When I visited North America, there seemed to be an abundance of wealth. Uganda is a beautiful country, but there is significant poverty. Yet, at the same time, the people are really happy. For the average person in Pakistan, life is just so hard, and it’s incredible to see where some people call home - tents etc. But on the other hand, those of us who live in comfortable, safe, dry homes should be extremely grateful and appreciative.

 

Overall, it is amazing to see people’s resilience, love of life, appreciation of kindness, and strong sense of family and belonging. What have they got to live for? I suggest that for many, they have their sight set on another world. 

 

The Bible says that no matter what type of home life we have in this world, there is the prospect of a better home in the next. In fact, the Lord Jesus Christ is recorded as telling His disciples that He was going to prepare a place for them. In that conversation, He indicated that He was going back to heaven, His Father’s house and that he would look forward to welcoming them to live there with him. I have a feeling that the preparation He was talking about did not involve ‘bricks and mortar’ but that by His death, burial, and resurrection, He was making life in heaven available to all. He was going to die for sin and suffer, the just for the unjust (us) to bring us to God. 

 

Many of my readers will not be convinced that the Bible is relevant to them. But, as a Christian, I am convinced that the Bible is more than just an interesting book or a book of ancient or historical value. Instead, I believe that the Bible is a unique book vital for every human being to understand why they are in the world and why they need a relationship with God.

 

As I finish, let me take you back to the words of the Lord Jesus.

 

As well as promising that He was going back to heaven (the inference being that He had come from heaven to this planet in the first place), He was making it clear that He is the only way for every human being to get to know God (His Father) and to be in a fit condition to occupy heaven on the other side of death. So, Jesus said – ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’.  

 

For anyone who wants to read what Jesus said for themselves, read the Gospel of John, chapter 14.

What do your clothes say about you?

All pictures courtesy of Unsplash

I am sure that many have had their favourite clothes. Whether it is because they are fashionable, comfortable or have been gifted to us, one problem with such items is their tendency to be outdated, outgrown, damaged or eventually worn out. A shirt I had some years ago ticked nearly all the boxes: it was stylish, comfortable and I bought it for my wedding day.  Regrettably, I had only worn it a few times when it caught on a door handle and it was left with a large tear. More recently, a favourite jacket suffered the same ‘door handle’ treatment, but thankfully, a few stitches was enough to put it right. Sadly, the shirt was beyond repair.

New Year Challenges & Changes

A new year brings challenges and changes. Can I remind you of some of the more important challenges we may meet in this life, and the changes we need to make to be prepared.

New Year Challenges

A New Year brings fresh challenges and opportunities but life is so unpredictable! At times, the variety life brings can be very exciting but sometimes it’s a bit frightening. That flood in the house, the illness that took us by surprise! The speed of change and our helplessness can be disconcerting! As mere mortals, we cannot control our circumstances and have to try to cope with what is inevitable as well as we possibly can.

Is Jesus Israel's promised Messiah?

Is Jesus Israel's Promised Messiah?

The New Testament claims that He is? The evidence stacks up to establish that He is? I believe that He is?


Jesus fulfils all the biblical predictions from Genesis 3:15 about the seed of the woman, right up to the prediction of the place of his birth in Micah chapter five. No one else has ever made and verified the claim to be the Messiah of Israel. Many have made the claim but time has proven them to be deluded or conscious imposters. The Lord Jesus Christ confirmed by his life, behaviour, miraculous powers and fulfilment of the predictions of scripture that He is.

The best type of home!

There is no safer place to be found!

If you are interested in reading, listening or watching to discover the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ please visit www.seekthetruth.org.uk. 

Home again Home again jiggity jig

Home again Home again jiggity jig! It's good to be away, especially on holiday, but there's nothing quite like getting home again!

Every now and again we all need a break from the routines of our daily life. We need some new scenery. The drudgery of repeatedly doing the same things week after week can wear us down. So it's time for a break. 

Health experts advise stopping what you are doing regularly and having a short break. Sitting in front of a computer screen for hours can be soul destroying!

Get up go for a walk, change your viewpoint, relax. Take a break!

All good advice, especially when you are weary and need a change, a rest or a complete break. I have thoroughly enjoyed my ten days in Tenerife. It was a privilege to get that type of a break. I know everyone can't do it so I appreciate God's grace in allowing me to - along with my family. 

But, I am not writing this piece to focus on my break but on the principle of rest. We all need rest but rest comes in different guises to meet differing needs. 

For instance our bodies need regular rest. Whether it's a brief break during the day, or a good nights sleep we need regular rest for our physical frames. We are made of dust and at the best weak and dependant. Psalm 103:14 says "For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust".

Maybe this has dawned on you. If not it will one day. It reminds me of the fragility and brevity of life.

We (our souls) long for rest. Only God can provide that rest through His Son, Jesus Christ. The words of the Lord Jesus express the answer He has to the human need for rest - Matthew 11:28 "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest".

This rest is only possible because Christ died for our sins, he was buried and rose again on the third day, 1 Corinthians 15:3.  

For more information go to www.seekthetruth.org.uk