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Seeing through the Mist and Fog

25/5/2016

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When I woke up this morning and looked out the Rectory window, I couldn’t help wondering to myself ‘who stole Donegal?’.  There was a heavy mist and fog covering Lifford and the hills behind it.  I could just about make out the car park at ASDA.  Then the Sun broke through and started to warm up the air and as the morning progressed, Donegal started to re-appear.  The marvels of creation.
In the Church’s calendar we are roughly half way through the Church year and are now in the season of Trinity.  From now until the Sunday’s before Advent the lectionary readings direct us to think of the life and ministry of Jesus.  During the season of Trinity the liturgical colours in the Church turn to green, and along with the scripture readings, we are encouraged to reflect upon how we can grow in our faith.  
I know from my own personal experience and from listening to others, there are times in our lives when we find it difficult to ‘grow’.  In fact there are times when it can be difficult to see God at all.  However, as the mist and fog disappeared this morning and the sun broke through, so Jesus can do the same.  When we ask Him for help and we lean fully on Him, the Son of God can break through the thickest and most difficult situation and shine upon us.  Thus giving us light and hope, and allowing us to see things very differently.
The words of the hymn ‘Great is thy faithfulness’ (hymn 80), is based upon Lamentations 3:22-24 “It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.”   The writer of this hymn, Thomas Chisholm, decided to follow Jesus when he was 27, and by the age of 36 he was ordained.  After only one year in ordained ministry he had to retire due to ill health, but this did not hinder him from writing many poems and hymns.  Towards the end of his life and upon reflecting on what God had done in his life, Chisholm wrote “I must not fail to record here the unfailing faithfulness of a covenant-keeping God and that He has given me many wonderful displays of His providing care, for which I am filled with astonishing gratefulness.”
Even amongst the mist and fog of life, we must never forget the faithfulness of God and the love that He has for each of us.  May each of us be able to say wholeheartedly the words of verse 3 of Chisholm’s hymn:
Pardon for Sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide,
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!






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Have you noticed?

3/5/2016

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Have you ever heard something, seen something or read something several times, and then all of a sudden something new grabs your attention?
While recently being out and about in my car I have been listening to extracts of Handel’s Messiah.  Towards the end there is a section with the lyrics ‘I know that my redeemer liveth’.  I have listened to this piece of music on numerous occasions but this time it really seemed to speak to me.  Perhaps this is because we are still in the season of Easter, or maybe it was something else, but it did start a train of thoughts in my mind about the person of Jesus and what I believe. 
So, this is what I believe - I believe in the Virgin Birth.  I believe in the Cross of Calvary and that He died in my place and was buried in a borrowed tomb.  I believe in the Resurrection and His ascension into heaven.  I believe in His promise to return someday and take His people to the place He is currently preparing for us.  I believe every word that is written about Him in the Bible.  I believe that I can speak with Him at any time and in any place.  I believe in His promise to never leave me nor forsake me.  I believe that He is the Son of our Heavenly Father.
I guess I always knew these things, and was taught them as a child by my parents, faithful friends and teachers.  However, it wasn’t until I was 17 that all these things became real to me and I decided to accept Jesus request to open the door of my life and let him in.  That invitation is echoed throughout Scripture, but one of the most descriptive verses is Revelation 3:20 – “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”
That decision which I made in my late teens changed my life forever, and everyday fills me with a renewed sense of joy, hope and assurance.  I know that no matter what happens the Lord Jesus loves me and I love Him.  I hope and pray that as you have read these thoughts this month that you are encouraged to think about what you believe and why you believe it. 
I know that my Redeemer liveth,
​and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.
And though worms destroy this body,
yet in my flesh shall I see God.
For now is Christ risen from the dead,
the first-fruits of them that sleep.
(Handel’s Messiah, part III)


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