Blackbird

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise.

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to be free.

Blackbird fly, Blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night.
(song by The Beatles - Writers John Lennon/Paul McCartney)

We have escaped like a bird from the fowler’s snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped...
Psalm 124:7 (New International Version)

...but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:31 (New International Version)

(The answer to prayer that I received this morning. This post had been in draft on my blog for a couple of years - today, it would appear, is the day to post it. Not sure why. Thank you, Lord. ) 

Inside

I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. 

He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. 

He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him.

Psalm 40:1-3 (NIV)

It's A Wonderful Life - Really

Yes, I know. As we go through life, stuff happens. Some of it is good. Some of it isn't. And that's often an understatement.

I'm encouraged by Christian friends and colleagues around me to "get used to it". And to go through life with Jesus as my constant companion. Didn't He say, "I will be with you, always"? (Matthew 28:20)

Yes, He is there with me. However, the bad stuff still happens. Why? Perhaps it's understandable that folks like me soon around to questioning: if Jesus truly cares for me, why does this sort of thing still happen? Why do I hurt?

Now, as I started reflecting on this, I kept thinking about "It's A Wonderful Life". A former corps officer of mine introduced me to this film classic a few years ago; since then it has become a firm favourite of mine. The picture above is from the film, depicting George Bailey (James Stewart) and Clarence the angel (Henry Travers). A wonderful, "what if" story...

The film is all about George's discovery that a life well lived can make a tremendous difference to our world. Even if, sometimes, we can't see it ourselves. It's only when we get a glimpse of how things could have been without such an influence that you realise what this can do.

Can you imagine what a difference that knowing Christ has made to your own life? Sure, you might say. But can anyone truly know? Can they point to evidence that living your life with Christ protects you from harm? I must admit, I believe that it does. However, it's rare that any of us can ever make a list detailing the bad things that never happened to you - because the Almighty made sure that they never happened!

If only we could glimpse that other life; the one where you took that other path, made that different decision - just briefly - perhaps it would make things so much clearer...

I had that brief glimpse into my own life, recently. What life could have been like if I hadn't chosen Christ... and it really wasn't very pleasant. A wake-up call.

Dear reader, I have had my fair share of low moments. Trust me, I've been right down there in that pit of despair, right down in that mire, that 'slough of despond'. And He was there with me, in the blackness, Sure, He knows that I would prefer an easier life. We all would - but Jesus wants us to have the best. And He knows that He can use us, both you and I, to encourage and to help others...

He said “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

And still He urges me on. "Trust me, it can be so much better..."

More next week...

Waiting

Psalm 40:1-2 (NIV UK)
"I waited patiently for the Lord ; He turned to me and heard my cry.   He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand."

It's been a busy weekend. I have (once again!) crammed so many things into two days that I feel exhausted just thinking about it.

Because, every day, I've been challenged.

On Friday night, when I was very low, He reminded me that I was remembered and loved by Him even when others had scattered and things were looking awfully bleak...

Then on Saturday I was challenged to once again acknowledge other people's struggles. You might think you have it tough - others go through similar problems - some, even worse...

This was followed up on Sunday by a terrific but very personal assurance of His own promises to me. A reminder that I don't face these things alone. He's there with me; He knows what I need. A personalised acknowledgement card from the Almighty. He's on the case!

I'm still waiting for some of these promises to be fulfilled. But I know the answers are almost here.

I'm waiting patiently.

Not A Good Place

My regular readers will be well aware of the fact that I struggle with my moods. Other folk will simply say that there are days when I "don't seem to be in a good place". So I thought I would sit down and jot down exactly how things appear to me when I'm having one of my bad days; perhaps that might throw a bit of light on what exactly goes on in my head. There were a couple of days earlier this month... so I've taken the opportunity to study the way I feel, objectively.

What sets it off? Oh, I think I've worked that one out. The last few 'bouts' have occurred either on the day or even a day or two after I've had a really busy period. Occasions when I have been 'pushing it' - working just a little too hard, going just a little too long without a break. OK, then, overdoing it! However I doesn't happen every time - and often I find it's something really small and insignificant that just tips the balance. A small comment, maybe. The straw that breaks the camel's back?

The best word I can come up with to describe how I can feel during one of these bouts is "overwhelmed". Little problems can seem to be big ones; big problems are just too much. I start to brood - have you ever seen Michael Fassbender's terrific portrayal of Erik in "X-Men First Class"? That same brooding silence that you see in one of the early scenes, when Erik manipulates the coin between his fingers. I struggle against the mood, try to make sense of it.

However, I don't lose my faith on these occasions. It's been well proven to me that the Lord is in the darkness with me. I'm not alone. I am never alone. I seek out my Father's presence as I pray into my situation, crying out for a break, wanting something to change. The feeling claws at me, clinging to my legs as it tries to pull me down. It feels like I'm struggling through mud, or clay. My body aches, I'm far more sensitive to pain than usual. In the meantime I try to maintain "business as usual" but some days even the normal routine seems exceptionally difficult. Even easy tasks get increasingly hard. However, I still carry on. It shouldn't last long... Doesn't usually.

There's something else, though. During this time something odd happens. I become acutely aware of other people, of their behaviour. The fact they are saying to one thing to one person, something totally different to another. It's a bit like I'm in a soap opera, and not a particularly good one. And I am an unwilling and remote observer, hypersensitive to detail. If I feel I can, I'll try to do something, anything, to make a difference. When I try to do the right thing, more often than not, it fails. Was it meant to be? I sigh, try to pick up the pieces. Sometimes I just sit there and watch as the inevitable unfolds before me.

When my mood subsides and the bout is finally over, I begin to think freely again. Invariably I will try and do something dynamic, perhaps even a little out of character, just to kick-start some energy back into my life. Get myself moving again! I launch into frantic activity - start to plan, even start to blog more.

Does any of this make any sense?

Your Move

Have you ever had a particularly weak moment in your life? I've had a few. You know, the sort of day when I just wanted to crawl back into bed. Times when I just wanted to yell in frustration or cry my eyes out (but of course I couldn't, 'cause I'm a fella and that's not the way us fellas are supposed to behave).

Have you been there? Are you at that place right now? Well, here's some news for you.

At Your Weakest Point, God Is At His Strongest.

What that means in a practical sense is that God won't get in your way as long as you think you have the answer. He'll let you carry on.

However, when you finally admit to yourself that you haven't a clue, that you are totally lost, out of options.... and you surrender your life to the Almighty, then and only then, will God will do His stuff.

There's nothing too hard for God to handle.

But it's your move. You need to take that first step...

Your move.

Omnipotent

[om-nip-uh-tuhnt] adjective; almighty or infinite in power.

As part of my prayer time over the past few days I have started reflecting on the omnipotence of God. It's an issue that I am well aware of consciously, however unconsciously there is a tendency to restrict God's power. You don't pray for something, because, deep down, you think the situation is 'impossible'.

Nothing is impossible for God. I'm trying to remember this every day this week - particularly when I'm in a situation that is really pretty bad. I'm asking Him to go to work in my life, to sort some stuff out. To do a miracle or two.

I know He can.

Jeremiah 32:27
"I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?"

Matthew 19:26
Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

(all scripture verses from New International Version, ©2011)

Joy

I got quite a bit out of the Corps Bible Study yesterday evening. The CO led the session on the subject of 'hope', and we explored various passages relating to hope and expectation in scripture over the course of the evening. He mentioned the story of how Horatio Spafford wrote 'It Is Well With My Soul'; although I know the song well, I'd never heard the story before. Read all about it here.

A comment during the evening on 'joy' started me off on yet another train of thought. Is it possible to be joyful, even if you are going through unhappy times? Does that even make sense?

Happiness is a topic that I've touched on before in this blog, but I've never quite understood the difference between happiness and joy. And there is a difference.

Happiness is a temporary condition, based more on circumstance or good fortune than anything. When things are going well, you are happy. Joy on the other hand goes much deeper. It speaks of emotional well-being. Winning something in a competition may make us happy, but joy comes from deep relationships, like those with a loved one, and of course from God.

Joy does not depend on having more money, a new car, new job, or that luxury holiday. It's a state of mind, an attitude to life that wells up from inside you.

Although I haven't quite suffered as much as Horatio Spafford did those many years ago, I can admit that today wasn't by any stretch of the imagination a happy day. But I'm pleased to say that I still have that joy that comes from knowing my Saviour within me.

And that, to complete the link back to last night, gives me hope.

Romans 15:13 (New International Version, ©2011)
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Fight or Flight?

The title for this blog entry comes from a study of something called 'fight-or-flight response', a phrase first coined a physiologist called Walter Bradford Cannon. He was studying the basic response in animals to a threat, and noted the automatic response to danger that makes changes in the body, making the animal ready for defensive action, either fighting or running away.

In times of stress, hormones like adrenalin are released, speeding up the heart rate, slowing digestion, redirecting blood to the muscles and changing the body's autonomic functions, giving the body a burst of energy and strength.

These same effects can be seen in humans, however in modern society this response can cause problems. Modern day stresses (e.g., a bad day at work) could trigger this response, however neither fight (physical violence) nor flight (running away from the problem) are possible. If an individual is unable to control this response, it may surface as stress - a natural reaction if he or she is faced with a situation where they see no easy escape route.

By its very nature, the fight-or-flight response bypasses the individual's rational mind, so some irrational behaviour may surface, even if the perceived 'threat' does not stand up to close examination. When things get much too 'hot', the individual may do something quite 'out of character'. I think that's why we see increased incidents of irrational behaviour in situations when there is no way out - like incidents of 'road rage' in the middle of a traffic jam

When the 'threat' is gone, the body's autonomic functions are designed to return to normal, but there are recorded cases involving chronic stress where this doesn’t happen. Extreme incidents of stress have been known to cause other psychological problems, or can surface as physical symptoms, such as a rash.

I've been looking at incidents in scripture of extreme stress, and am led once again to the Book of Job. His story is certainly one where no easy escape route was visible! Job suffered more than his fair share of problems and suffering.

Job's reaction to the news that all of his children have been killed in a storm is an eye-opener:

Job 1:21 (New International Version, ©2010)
...and said: "Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.”

Is what is generally recalled as the "patience of Job" really a reluctance of Job to accept or come to terms with alarming news? Job certainly started to develop unusual physical symptoms (see later chapters, a rash that covered his body). Unable to fight against this torrent of awful incidents and certainly unable to run away from them, he would be suffering from extremes of stress, and even suffering denial that he is in a really bad place!

The final message from the Book of Job is one of perseverance. It calls on all of us to recognise our own limitations and to put our trust in God in all circumstances, even when we don't understand why. It does not give us any answers as to why there is suffering in this world - but it gives us the encouragement to hang on and not give up. To fight, and not to run away.

It is interesting to note that once Job had finally experienced God and had realised that God had not forsaken him, his hope returned and he began to get better.

Just to complete this entry, there are of course occasions where flight is the correct reaction - we need to flee from situations which may put us into harm:

1 Corinthians 6:18
1 Timothy 6:9-11
2 Timothy 2:22

Easy Target

A work colleague and I were engaged in conversation today about a particular case, and he took the opportunity to correct me on a small matter of detail about what had happened. I know that he took great delight in this, I don't doubt that he did it just to get a reaction out of me. He said that he couldn't resist, I was "such an easy target".

I'm reading up at the minute on whether Christians should be thick-skinned. I have previously felt that an attitude like that would prevent me from feeling the needs of others. Although leaving me open to hurt, I feel that not developing a 'thick skin' would enable me to be of more use to God. More on this later...

I forgive my colleague. I should thank him! At least it has set me thinking...

Keep On Keeping On

Keep on believing, Jesus is near.
Keep on believing, there's nothing to fear ;
Keep on believing, this is the way :
Faith in the night as well as the day.
(chorus, SASB Song 773)

I can't quite put my finger on it but today has been unusual and quite unsettling in some ways. I really can't understand why when looking back on today's events. I only know that I need to keep close to Him, which is always sound advice.

Is something important about to happen?

Suddenly....

Suddenly,
I'm not half the man I used to be,
There's a shadow hanging over me,
Oh, yesterday came suddenly.
(lyrics to 'Yesterday', written by John Lennon, Paul McCartney)

I have spent today trying to find my feet back at work (no pun intended), however during the course of this busy day I realised that I seem to have a problem with 'suddenly'... It was a sudden event that led to my incapacity six weeks ago, and as a result of yesterday's trip to the hospital, I find myself just as rapidly back in harness once again. The change of pace is shocking to the system.

I'd like to think I'm not too bad when it comes to forward planning, and I'm prepared to accept change can be a good thing, but I really don't care for life to be as fluid and frankly chaotic as it seems to be at the moment.

However, today I've been encouraged by the following scripture verse:

Philippians 4:8 (New International Version, ©2010)
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Paul wrote these verses whilst in prison, under threat of execution. How stressful would that be? Kind of puts my feelings about sudden changes in my pace of life into context. I need to do what Paul suggests, and 'think on these things' for a while... Ignore the chaos, concentrate on Christ.

Thanks for the prayers.

Back To Reality

Having been seen by the consultant and finally released from my plaster cast, I have been told that I can now return to work. It seems that my convalescence is over, ending even as quickly as it started. I'm travelling up to work this morning.

Time now to get back to reality and get back to grips with the world. The reality is that I'm feeling greatly in need of His grace today. I'm sure that's a good thing, but it doesn't make today's journey any easier.

Prayer support today will be most welcome.

Hebrews 13:5 (Good News Translation)

For God has said, "I will never leave you; I will never abandon you."

The Iron Fetters Yield...

"He comes, the prisoners to release,
In Satan’s bondage held;
In Satan’s bondage held.
The gates of brass before Him burst,
The gates of brass before Him burst.
The iron fetters yield,
The iron fetters yield,
The iron fetters yield."
(verse 2 of 'Hark The Glad Sound' by Philip Doddridge)

Verses which came to me during the Divisional Prayer Meeting tonight. Very powerfully!

End Of Your Rope

Matthew 5:3 (The Message)
"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

"I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much." ~Mother Teresa

"When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on." ~Franklin D. Roosevelt

I’ve found the secret of success,
’Tis holding on, ’tis holding on;
The way to every blessedness,
’Tis holding on, ’tis holding on.
Our warfare may be hard and fierce,
Oft Satan’s arrows wound and pierce,
But still we get more smiles than tears
By holding on, by holding on.
SASB 806, verse 1 - Ruth Tracy (1870-1960)

Bricks without straw

Exodus 5 (The Message)
1 After that Moses and Aaron approached Pharaoh. They said, "God, the God of Israel, says, 'Free my people so that they can hold a festival for me in the wilderness.'"

2 Pharaoh said, "And who is God that I should listen to him and send Israel off? I know nothing of this so-called 'God' and I'm certainly not going to send Israel off."

3 They said, "The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness so we can worship our God lest he strike us with either disease or death."

4-5 But the king of Egypt said, "Why on earth, Moses and Aaron, would you suggest the people be given a holiday? Back to work!" Pharaoh went on, "Look, I've got all these people bumming around, and now you want to reward them with time off?"

6-9 Pharaoh took immediate action. He sent down orders to the slave-drivers and their underlings: "Don't provide straw for the people for making bricks as you have been doing. Make them get their own straw. And make them produce the same number of bricks—no reduction in their daily quotas! They're getting lazy. They're going around saying, 'Give us time off so we can worship our God.' Crack down on them. That'll cure them of their whining, their god-fantasies."

10-12 The slave-drivers and their underlings went out to the people with their new instructions. "Pharaoh's orders: No more straw provided. Get your own straw wherever you can find it. And not one brick less in your daily work quota!" The people scattered all over Egypt scrabbling for straw.

13 The slave-drivers were merciless, saying, "Complete your daily quota of bricks—the same number as when you were given straw."

14 The Israelite foremen whom the slave-drivers had appointed were beaten and badgered. "Why didn't you finish your quota of bricks yesterday or the day before—and now again today?"

15-16 The Israelite foremen came to Pharaoh and cried out for relief: "Why are you treating your servants like this? Nobody gives us any straw and they tell us, 'Make bricks!' Look at us—we're being beaten. And it's not our fault."

17-18 But Pharaoh said, "Lazy! That's what you are! Lazy! That's why you whine, 'Let us go so we can worship God.' Well then, go—go back to work. Nobody's going to give you straw, and at the end of the day you better bring in your full quota of bricks."

19 The Israelite foremen saw that they were in a bad way, having to go back and tell their workers, "Not one brick short in your daily quota."

20-21 As they left Pharaoh, they found Moses and Aaron waiting to meet them. The foremen said to them, "May God see what you've done and judge you—you've made us stink before Pharaoh and his servants! You've put a weapon in his hand that's going to kill us!"

22-23 Moses went back to God and said, "My Master, why are you treating this people so badly? And why did you ever send me? From the moment I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, things have only gotten worse for this people. And rescue? Does this look like rescue to you?"

You Are My Shield And Protector

Psalm 3 (The Message)

1-2 God! Look! Enemies past counting! Enemies sprouting like mushrooms, mobs of them all around me, roaring their mockery: "Hah! No help for him from God!"

3-4 But you, God, shield me on all sides; You ground my feet, you lift my head high; with all my might I shout up to God, His answers thunder from the holy mountain.

5-6 I stretch myself out. I sleep. Then I'm up again—rested, tall and steady, Fearless before the enemy mobs coming at me from all sides.

7 Up, God! My God, help me! Slap their faces, first this cheek, then the other, your fist hard in their teeth!

8 Real help comes from God. Your blessing clothes your people!

.

Faithful One

Faithful One, so unchanging.
Ageless One, You're my rock of peace.
Lord of all I depend on You.
I call out to You again and again.
I call out to You again and again.

You are my rock in times of trouble.
You lift me up when I fall down.
All through the storm,
Your love is the anchor,
My hope is in You alone.
(Brian Doerkson)

I continue to pray...

We will survive!

2 Corinthians 4:7-12 (The Message)
If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That's to prevent anyone from confusing God's incomparable power with us. As it is, there's not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that we're not much to look at. We've been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we're not demoralised; we're not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we've been spiritually terrorised, but God hasn't left our side; we've been thrown down, but we haven't broken. What they did to Jesus, they do to us—trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in us—he lives! Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus' sake, which makes Jesus' life all the more evident in us. While we're going through the worst, you're getting in on the best!

Get Out!

Acts 2:38-40 (The Message)
38-39 Peter said, "Change your life. Turn to God and be baptised, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, so your sins are forgiven. Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is targeted to you and your children, but also to all who are far away—whomever, in fact, our Master God invites."
40 He went on in this vein for a long time, urging them over and over, "Get out while you can; get out of this sick and stupid culture!"

I'm working on the changes right now.