Thursday, June 14, 2012

Into every life a little rain must fall.





All the best people have been to jail; Joseph, Daniel, Jeremiah, Peter, John the Baptist, the list goes on.
My favourite story is when Paul and Silas were put in the county jail in Philippi.

Having been beaten, refused their Miranda Rights and denied access to a lawyer they had a major case against the authorities, especially since Paul was a Roman citizen.

Retribution was not on their minds as they sat in the stocks in the dungeon.

Instead they decided to lift up their voices and sing some anthems to the Lord.

In Acts 16 we read that:

 "THE OTHER PRISONERS HEARD THEM."

Suddenly the jailhouse shook, all the doors were opened and their chains fell off their wrists.

That must have been quite a song they were singing.

What's our lesson for today?

Quit looking for vengeance, understand that whining and complaining accomplish nothing, neither do law suits.

You have the best Lawyer in the world, His name is Jesus and His services are free.

Now start praising God loud enough for OTHER PEOPLE to hear you, and wait for the results.

Jubilate

Ian


Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Into every life a little rain must fall.







King Jehoshaphat has just received bad news.
The  Arabs from the south have finally got their act together and have assembled a million man army.
They are already on the march and war is on their mind.

What to do ?

Build fortifications, sharpen the swords and spears, conscript, send North for help. While the counsel of war is in progress God speaks through a prophet.
"Leave your weapons at home. Tell the army they won't be  needed. Assemble the orchestra, call up the choir, march to the battlefield, praise My Name and leave the rest to Me."

Could it be that simple?

 They found out the next day when the day battle was won without a shot being fired but with an awful lot of singing going on.

Facing an impossible situation today?
Don't get too smart.
Maybe this battle belongs to God and is not yours to fight.

Keep praising the Lord and leave the rest alone.

Jubilate.

Ian



Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Into every life a little rain must fall.







My great uncle Chris was a Welshman. In 1943 he failed to return from a bombing raid over Germany. He was the rear gunner of a Lancaster that went down over the North Sea.

He never lived to draw his pension or see his children grow up, but he died an honorable death.

His wife, Jenny, like many of the Welsh had a beautiful singing voice. Her husband's death did not silence it.
Five years after she became a widow she stood up at the Eisteddfod
(The national singing contest) and won the coveted trophy.

The people of God  exiled to Babylon refused to sing. The Bible says that they "hung up their harps in the willow trees"

What has tried to rob you of your joy in life? Answer it with a song.
You might not pick up an Eeisteddfod trophy but it will sure change your world.

Jubilate.

Ian

Monday, June 11, 2012

Into every life a little rain must fall.




The bombed-out St Martin-le-Grand Church in Coney Street


Seventy years ago today York, in England, endured its worst bombing raid of the second world war.

There will be a service in the Minster to remember the hundreds who were killed and injured in the attack.
My sister and I survived the blitz huddled in a  steel bomb shelter. 

Our father was out patrolling the streets while our  redoutable mother read the psalms to us and sang Vera Lynn songs while the German bombers droned overhead.

Scriptures and songs, not a bad combination to see you through the worst of life's ordeals.

Three years later, in 1945, Hitler committed suicide. My mother outlasted him by another sixty years. She died on the high note exhorting the other members of her old folks group to SING LOUDER.

That's my word for the day. When the set backs come SING LOUDER.

Jubilate.
Ian

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Into every life a little rain must fall




car photo 448591 7 Volvo C30 crashes out at Moving Motor Show


Well, there goes my perfect driving record.

Last week the guy in front of me put on his brakes but forgot to tell me.
In a second my Volvo had lost it's headlight assembly, the indicator unit and  it's bumper.

Within the hour I was a the local bodywork shop.

When I found that Kim on the front desk was from Scotland, I sang her a Scottish Ballad.

The rest of the staff seemed a bit stupefied. The owner then broke the silence and said:

 "This is new to me. Most people who come in here after an accident are in tears or near hysteria, but you give us an aria."

Well, since the Bible says, "In EVERYTHING give thanks" I thought that this was a perfect opportunity to put it to the test.

It sure worked with the team at AUTO FIX IT. For the next few days whenever they phoned they asked for

"Mr Wilson. The man the myth and the legend"

Jubilate

Ian.