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Lost
peace
Caught
up in worrying? Take some advice from Helena Palmer...
 ow
often do we worry? If I had 10p for every time something flashed
through my mind which worried me I would be in the same league
of billionaire as Bill Gates. As a teenager I am exposed many
different anxieties not only concerning myself but also my
friends.
Now when
usually faced with an issue I often turn to the wisdom of Bob
Marley, "Don't worry, Be happy" although there is in
fact better advice to be found in that good old book, the Bible.
"So I tell you, don't worry about the food or drink you need
to live, or about the clothes you need for your body. Life is
more than food, and the body is more than clothes… You cannot
add any time to your life by worrying about it" (Luke 12:22
onward).
For example
one of my greatest fears is the future; Will I pass my exams?
Will I get into University? What if I fail? I frequently pray
and as the bible says, "Cast your burdens onto Jesus, for
he cares for you." My greatest advice for worry is prayer,
God is always there and he always has a solution, so try it!
Helena
A
lost gift
Jo
Wright on how we can gain from what we lose...
 've
lost a precious ring that my mum gave to me before she died. It's
valuable and I often have a real good search for it in cupboards
or drawers, knowing that it's somewhere in our house full of toys,
books, unwanted presents and clothes mountains.
But one day
I started thinking about losing things and how somehow, if we
have faith, we can have that sense that God has allowed things
to happen to us so that we can grow!
This is not
how I've always felt. When I was a feisty eighteen-year old in
the Midlands, I decided I didn't want to be part of my church
because it was 'full of hypocrites'. It was an excuse - yes, there
was bad stuff going on in that church, but because of MY loss
of faith I spent the next 30 years searching for a fulfilling
life. I got married, had children, partied a lot, got angry when
my mum died and struggled with giving up smoking!
It was only
after becoming a born-again Christian a few years ago and giving
all my hopes, fears, dreams and problems to God that I have begun
to understand a bit better. The bible tells us that "all
things work together for good to those who love God'' (Romans
8v28). Now I can see that my time in an abusive marriage has helped
me talk to others who are struggling in similar situations. Likewise,
when discussing with teenagers (at our Sunday night group) the
difficulties they face with resisting peer group pressure to drink
and smoke I am able to speak from experience about just how addictive
these substances can be. Even my Mum's death brought blessings
for me (just as she would have wanted), because when she died
I remember saying "That's it, I'm going to see different
places", because she never realised her dream of living near
the sea and countryside (Birmingham’s a bit different to Tavistock).
If I hadn’t moved to Devon, I would not have met my amazing husband,
or had a beautiful baby boy, or found a loving church family,
or got to work with some brilliant young people.
I am going
to keep searching for that lost ring, but the memories of Mum
and what she taught me all those years ago will never leave me,
as anyone who has lost someone will understand. I believe God
is in my future and I now have faith that He has the best plan
for my life. He promises to prosper us (Psalm 1v3) and that has
to be better than struggling and relying on your own strength.
I’m looking forward to it!
Jo
Charlie's
Testimony
by Charlie Hocking
 hen
I first came to know Jesus it was more than 20 years ago. I was
called up for National Service for 2 years and then I did 12 years
in the Royal Navy. After I came out of the Navy I was living with
my brother and his wife. I was not a Christian then, I spent
a lot of time drinking, then I was always in trouble with the
police. Then one day I came to live with Ruby and Cyril. When
I came to Ruby’s I never had any proper clothes, I was sleeping
rough, wearing rubber boots, torn trousers and an old jumper.
Ruby used to talk to me about Jesus night after night. Sometimes
I wouldn’t listen. It took quite a time before she got to me.
I was not interested.
Then one
day they were going to Elim Church and I said I would like to
come too. When I got there the people were all singing and clapping,
then the minister said "Is there anybody who would like to
give themselves to Jesus?" and I went forward. A couple of
months later, on 28th August 1983 I was baptised in the river
Meavy. It has not always been easy. But Ruby has been good to
me, I have been healed of many things, Jesus is with me every
day and the people at the fellowship I go to have been good to
me.
Now I want
to tell you how my leg healed. When I left work 16 years ago I
had sores all down my legs. It was very painful and I could not
walk for a long time. I had to go up to the hospital to have pressure
bandages put on my legs to keep the swelling down. It was not
a very nice thing to have – my mother had the same trouble with
her legs and she could not walk. Then I became diabetic and had
to go in to hospital to have an operation. I nearly died but the
Lord saved me. Then a few months ago a couple of girls who had
been to Soul Survivor came to our church to talk about what they
had seen there. They had seen people getting healed and they prayed
for my leg and since then it’s been better. It shows how good
God is. I hope you enjoy my testimony. God bless,
Charlie
Lost
& found
Words
of encouragement from Dave
Palmer
as
death or divorce robbed you of a parent or close relative? Are
you still grieving for lost hugs and birthdays without bicycles?
The loss of these things can cause you to struggle all your life
to find your identity. When you grow up listening to endless
arguments but never see affection, it’s easy to think that’s normal,
then later you find yourself asking: "How should I act as
a parent? And why do I still feel like a lost child?" In
the Bible, King David said: "My father and mother walked
out and left me, but God took me in" (Psalm 27 v 10).
How wonderful!
God can hold you and heal your pain. When you’re hurting He can
put you on his couch and be your "Wonderful Counsellor",
when you feel like an orphan, He can be to you an "Everlasting
Father" who doesn’t abandon his kids, no matter what. With
him you’re always safe and protected, because that’s what loving
Fathers do. You’re his child, which means if something’s important
to you, it’s important to Him too! What’s more, He can send people
into your life who will be to you the father, mother, brother
or sister you never had.
Don’t take
anyone’s else’s word for it. Find God for yourself by inviting
Jesus Christ into your life. He is "the way" to the
Father (John Ch 14 v6). Then you will know for sure that God has
become Your Father in Heaven who is there for you , comes to live
in you and more than makes up for everything you have lost.
Dave
(with acknowledgements to UCB's 'Word for Today' - visit
their web site here)
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