The Haven

"HOPE 08"

The two excerpts below are reprinted by kind permission from “The Word For Today” a quiet time companion, published by UCB, PO Box 255, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 8YY.  The Word for Today is published quarterly with daily readings and notes and issued free of charge. 

Reflecting, and being grateful!

‘I WAS EYES TO THE BLIND AND FEET TO THE LAME.’ JOB 29:15 NIV

            Chuck Swindoll tells of The Giving Tree: ‘When the boy was young he swung from the tree’s branches, ate her apples and slept in her shade.  The tree loved those years.  But as the boy grew he spent less and less time with the tree.  “Come on, let’s play,” said the tree, but the young man was only interested in money.  “Then take all my apples and sell them,” said the tree.  He did and the tree was happy.  He didn’t return for a long time, but the tree smiled when he passed one day.  “Come on, let’s play!”  But the man was older and tired of the world.  He wanted to get away from it all.  “Cut me down.  Take my trunk, make yourself a boat, then you can sail away,” said the tree.  The man did, and the tree was happy.   Many seasons passed – and the tree waited.  Finally the old man returned, too old to play, or pursue riches, or sail the seas.  “I have a pretty good stump left.  Just sit down here and rest,” said the tree.  He did, and the tree was happy’

            Swindoll continues, ‘I stared into the fire, reviewing my life as I grew older with the tree and the boy.  I identified with both; and it hurt.  How many giving trees have there been?  How many people have given of themselves so that I might grow, accomplish my goals and find wholeness and satisfaction?  Thank you Lord for each one.’  That night I crawled into bed.  I had wept, now I was smiling.  “Goodnight, Lord.”  I was a thankful man.  Thankful I’d taken time to reflect.’

Peace ‘in spite of’

‘YOU WILL EXPERIENCE GOD’S PEACE, WHICH IS FAR MORE WONDERFUL THAN THE HUMAN MIND CAN UNDERSTAND.’ PHILIPPIANS 4:7 TLB

            Catherine Marshall writes ‘A king once offered a prize to the artist who could paint the best picture of peace.  Many tried, but there were only two the king really liked.  One was of a calm lake.  It was a perfect mirror for the peaceful towering mountains all around it.  Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds.  The other picture had mountains too.  But they were rugged and bare.  Above them was an angry sky from which fell rain, and in which lightning played.  Down the side of the mountains tumbled a waterfall.  This did not look peaceful at all.  But when the king looked closely he saw behind the waterfall a tiny bush growing in a crack in the rock.  In the bush a mother bird had built her nest.  There, in spite of the rush of angry water, she sat on her nest; in perfect peace.  Which picture do you think won the prize?  The king chose the second picture.  Why?  “Because,” explained the king, “Peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work.  Peace means to be in the middle of all these things and still be calm in your heart.”’

            At some point we all discover that there’s no safe harbour free from storms; that peace is not the absence of storms, but a) the assurance of God’s presence and protection in the midst of them; b) the growth of our faith and character because of them; c) His rock-solid promise to bring us through them stronger and wiser.

Be a peacemaker

‘BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS.’ MATTHEW 5:9 NIV

            When you walk into a scene of conflict you have two options; you can be a troublemaker or a peacemaker; you can add to the stress or bring a solution.  Zig Ziglar tells of a little guy who was confronted by three bullies, any one of whom could have flattened him.  And clearly, that’s what they had in mind.  But the little guy was very bright.  He backed away, drew a line in the dirt, backed up a few more steps, looked into the eyes of the biggest of the three and said, ‘Now you just step across that line!’  The big bully did.  At that moment the little guy grinned and said, ‘Good, now we’re both on the same side!’

            Peacemakers look for common ground, and try to get everyone onto it.  Their goal is to find a win-win situation.  Barnabas, whose name means ‘Son of consolation,’ stood up for the newly converted Saul of Tarsus when he was ‘persona non grata’ to the leaders of the church in Jerusalem.  And given Saul’s track record, who could blame them?  But Barnabas wasn’t looking at Saul’s troubled past, he was thinking about his potential.  In essence he told the apostles, ‘If you can harness and direct this horse, you win the race.’  And he proved right.  Saul the persecutor became Paul the apostle!  But Barnabas had to put his credibility on the line.  Peacemaking means taking a risk on people, judging them by their best moments and qualities rather than their worst.  Here’s the bottom line; peacemakers are big picture thinkers; they’re governed by grace, not petty opinions or temporary conditions.  So, are you ready to be a peacemaker?

Being happy on the job

‘THE LORD SHALL COMMAND (HIS) BLESSING UPON….ALL THAT THOU SETTEST THINE HAND UNTO.’ DEUTERONOMY 28:8

            Happiness involves feeling good about yourself.  It’s based on your relationships and achievements.  When your gifts and abilities are fully developed and utilized through your life’s work, you grow in confidence and strength.  Here are seven keys to being happy on the job: 1) see work as God’s gift, not punishment. ‘When God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work – this is a gift of God’ (Ecclesiastes 5:19 NIV) 2) recognise God as your true employer. ‘Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does’ (Ephesians 6:7-8 NIV) 3) pursue work compatible with your gifts.  ‘If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised’ (1Peter 4:11 NIV) 4) learn everything possible about your job. ‘Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance’ (Proverbs 1:5 NIV) 5) use criticism to your advantage.  In fact make it work for you; ask for suggestions and correction: ‘Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured’ (Proverbs 13:18) 6) do more than is expected of you. ‘And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him [two]’ (Matthew 5:41).  Be an extra-miler!  7) make Jesus your work partner.  Stay Christ-conscious throughout the day as you perform your duties faithfully: ‘Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee’  (Isaiah 26:3).

If  these readings have struck a chord with you and you would like to know more, here are some further contact details for UCB:

Website: www.ucb.co.uk/wft

Email: ucb@ucb.co.uk

Tel: 0845 60 40 401 (local rate call)

Prayers to read and use

Let us pray......................

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