David's blog

God blesses those who realise their need for him, for the Kingdom of God is given to them. Matthew 5v3

What are our needs. How do we view needs? If you need new shoes, do you genuinely need them or are you buying because it is nice to do so? Like food. Do we eat to satisfy our hunger or eat because the cookies are in the cupboard and the temptation is too great.

There is a need in all of us for someone, someone who knows us, cares for us, loves us. Someone to turn to in times of trouble or someone who we just like to be around. Jesus was like that and he still offers it today. He is available through the reading of the book they call the Bible. A way of knowing God who will be there for you in good times and bad. A relationship that will develop through time, to give you a better life, what is called the Kingdom of God.

It is sometimes better to stay in the background, proclaiming Jesus in a kind and gentle way. Openly criticizing only causes misunderstanding, hurt and division.

I travel by train every day. I work out what time is my train and the connection to where I work. It gives me some time to read and write. There is a train just after mine which sometimes gets in before my connection leaves. Initially when the train gets in before my connection leaves, I began thinking that this is not fair and hoped that the doors of the train would shut before they can reach the train. How hard we can be to our fellow humans! I now have changed my thinking to the opposite and hope that they can get on my connection. Isn’t life like the connection, we feel it is not fair that people get an easy life compared with ours. We strive for justice for ourselves forgetting really that everyone is like us, sometimes life work out well, while other times life is hard. I feel for myself it is time to wish people a happy life full of fulfillment and happiness, rather than wishing hell on them because today is better for them than us. I am struck by Jesus’ words of being a servant (or slave in the translation). If we start from this point then life will look completely different.

How do we come across with other people? Do others think we are self righteous, that I am right and everybody else is wrong, or are we people that care, that put others first, and not worried about what others are like. Hopefully my own life I am not self righteous, and through self examination, I can see areas that are wrong, and a striving to bring about a change. I believe if we look at the self sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and in his life we have an excellent role model for our lives.

People are important. How do we view other people? I think maybe we need to want the best in them, to encourage them, be kind, and to give them hope. One of the worst things we can do is to put someone down. To say, talk behind their backs, to make a joke at their expense, to criticize because we do not like the way they are or what they are doing. If we want to influence people for the better, we need to choose our words, thoughts and actions carefully. Be kind.

Have you ever wondered about life and it’s meaning? Have you looked for answers? I have and will continue to do so. The problem I have found is that those who think have found the answers put conditions on your search, like “You must do this and then…”. If you take the religion of Christianity some may say that you must say the sinners prayer and then God will accept you. This can be a problem especially those who cannot identify with sin in their life, and genuinely feel that they are good people anyway. There are others who try to scare you to believe – “If you do not turn from your sin then you will go to Hell. Wow that is some statement especially to a stranger. Some will tell you that you need to change your lifestyle as it is incompatible with Christianity. But if you got a microscope and looked at everyone’s lives, no one would be worthy. Everyone has something they hide from others.

I look on things as a journey, and things influence our lives, the good, the bad, happy times and painful times. Jesus’ main invitation found in his teachings is to simply ‘Follow Him’. Nothing else, no conditions, it’s up to you! But if you do take up this challenge and journey with Jesus your life will change, and you will want to change. You will want to find out what he really said, thought and did, and you will want to do the same.

If you have been hurt by Christians, I am really sorry. Despite this, would you look at Jesus again, not through the eyes of Christians, but through what is actually said about him in the gospels in the Bible (Sections called Matthew, Mark, Luke and John).

Thank you for listening
May God bless you.
David