Author: Alex

This morning, my Bible studies led me to Deuteronomy chapter 11, where Moses is teaching the children of Israel about the land in which they are going to dwell. He is also reminding them of the importance of God’s law, and why they need to honour and adhere to it. I was particularly struck by the words of verses 22-23. “If you carefully observe all these commands I am giving you to follow—to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him and to hold fast to him— then the Lord will drive out all these nations before you, and you will dispossess nations larger and stronger than you.”
Continue reading “Love, Obey, And Hold Tight.”

Ines wrote this beautiful poem during the CaronaVirus lockdown here in the UK. It really touched my heart, and she kindly agreed to let me share it with you all. If you’d like to hear more from Ines, you can subscribe to her podcast, “Intentional Purposeful Living With Ines”, or:

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Continue reading “Still, by Ines Higgins.”

In 1Samuel chapter 30, we read about David having a very bad day. Perhaps that’s an understatement, since his wives and children, and the families of all his men, have been kidnapped by a band of Amalekite raiders who destroyed their camp by burning it to the ground. David was supposed to be helping the Philistines, under whose protection he’s now living, in battle against his own people of Israel, but he’s been sent home with a flea in his ear. Although the Philistine king wanted David’s help, his people weren’t so sure. Would he really remain faithful to them in a battle against his own kinsmen, or would he turn tail and betray them? Was he a double agent, or a spy in their midst? After all, he was once a faithful officer of the Israelite king Saul. He was famous for killing Goliath, one of their own Philistine champions. He was the subject of a well-known Israelite song about how Saul had killed his thousands, but David his tens of thousands. (1Samuel 29 5.) So although the king had enlisted David’s help and considers him to be loyal, he’s forced to ask him to leave the battle, much to David’s chagrin.
Continue reading “Seeking God’s Way In Times Of Stress.”

While attending church during my childhood, I began hearing about the Holy spirit and what he did. Since my home church generally taught from the King James Bible, I first knew him as the Holy Ghost, and I thought that sounded a little creepy. Ghosts reminded me of Halloween, something I was never allowed, or even desired, to celebrate. I remember asking my mother about this spooky-sounding holy being, and she told me he was like my conscience – prodding me inwardly when I did or thought something wrong. I figured that was a good thing and didn’t find him quite so scary after that.
Continue reading “My Ongoing Journey With The Holy Spirit.”

At the age of 19, having attended church all my life, I embarked upon a new adventure – my first Alpha course. Truthfully, I did not know what to expect. I’m not even sure whether I wanted to go, but it felt like the right thing to do. Our church had a new pastor, and he had bucket-loads of enthusiasm. Up to that point, Bethlehem had been a pretty quiet place. We had Sunday services, with Sunday school in the middle. There was also a mid-week meeting for children, and a Monday night prayer meeting and Bible study. I guess looking back that wasn’t bad going for a congregation of about 12 people, many of whom were over 60. However, for me, church had become a little irrelevant. I had never lost my faith, but I wore it kind of like an old tired garment. I didn’t read the Bible, and my prayers were a sort of mantra, asking Jesus each night to protect those I loved from, I quote, “fires, fights, burglaries, serious illness, disease, and accidents of any kind.’ Don’t ask me how I defined the difference between serious illness and disease. I guess I was just covering all bases.
Continue reading “How Can Three Be One?”

When I was growing up, I instinctively knew that I had to speak and interact differently with my parents than with my friends. My friends were my equals, but my parents were older, wiser, and as the authority figures in my life, they deserved respect. If I didn’t give it, they soon told me, and rightly so. They were quick to remind me they weren’t there to be my buddies, but to teach and guide me into a profitable future.
Continue reading “The Most Amazing Friendship.”

During my childhood, I would often grumble at my parents over the things they wouldn’t allow me to do, especially if my friends’ parents didn’t have the same scruples. I chafed at what was a seeming injustice, not understanding their desire to protect and nurture me in the hope I’d grow into a responsible adult. A friend could watch a certain television show, so why couldn’t I? My mother’s answer would often simply be: “Well, I’m not her mother, so I don’t make the rules in her house.” I understand the wisdom of her choices now far more than I did back then, and I am grateful for the boundaries she set.
Continue reading “Don’t Fall Into The Comparison Trap.”

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22: 6.)

One of my earliest memories is of sitting on my mother’s lap, staring up at the chapel roof, which was dark and imposing. I was probably about 2 or 3 at the time, but from the beginning, our little Baptist chapel was a huge part of my life. Half past 2 on Sunday afternoons was Sunday school time, come rain or shine. My mother would shepherd as many children as she could fit into her car off to church, where we would hear Bible stories, sing songs, and draw. I was not very good at the drawing part, but I was not going to be left out.
Continue reading “Put Jesus In Your Everyday Life.”

During this past month, 3 people I know have lost loved ones. One death was expected, but the others were not, and none of them were related to Coronavirus. Yet, its impact has been felt in terms of how these people deal with their losses. The usual conventions of families visiting, friends bringing hugs, cakes and casseroles, and well attended funerals and memorial services are no longer permitted. We can express our condolences over the phone, or even stand at the edge of a garden path and speak from a distance, but we can’t do the thing that comes most naturally – pull that grieving soul into our arms for a warm embrace. Each funeral can only be attended by a handful of people, meaning even the closest relatives are sometimes robbed of their chance to say goodbye.
Continue reading “The Reality Of Grief.”

I am writing this in the midst of the lockdown here in the UK, caused by the outbreak of the Coronavirus. Many people are afraid as the death toll all over the world rises, and some Christians are asking whether this has anything to do with end time prophecies. The truth is that I can’t answer that question, and I feel it would be wrong for me to even try. We know the world is getting darker. There have been famines and earthquakes in various places as the Bible predicts, and sadly, many people still do not wish to turn to Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. I pray that in these difficult times more people will recognise that the things relied upon for security by many and which are now under threat, such as jobs, finances, homes, and so on, are nothing in the light of where we are going to spend eternity.
Continue reading “Be Ready By Living It Out.”