"Christians In Touch" -- Geoff's Jottings Archive

Do not be anxious about anything

May 2003

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7. (NIV)

I am a carpenter/joiner and love the work I do, one of the reasons for this is that Jesus was a carpenter. Some years ago I ran my own carpentry business. Like most businesses I had a business loan with the bank. I started getting pains in my back and work was becoming very difficult to carry out. Sometimes the pain would be that bad I would cry. When it was bad the doctor would come out and give me morphine. I was suffering from sciatica. It is a terrible complaint. When the back can take no more pain the pain diverts down one leg, even the weight of a bed sheet on the leg can be extremely painful. It got to the stage where I could only get about on crutches. I was off work for six months. The bank had no compassion and obtained a court order to repossess my home.

I was advised to go to the council to get alternative accommodation for my wife, my son and my daughter. This I did. I was advised that I would be put in a hostel for single men, which meant drug addicts and drunks. My wife would be put in another hostel for single parents along with our two children. I tore the forms up and said that God would never allow this to happen. We received the eviction order and still nothing was happening with regard where we were going to live. We would have rented but it meant putting a big deposit down plus a bond and we were broke. The church I was in at the time said they would pray about the situation, that was all the help I had from a church I had been a member of for some years? We only had a matter of days now before we were evicted but I held on to my only hope, God.

I had a phone call from the pastor of the church; he said he had a call from a vicar in Portsmouth. The vicar turned out to be a born again Christian getting on in years, every afternoon he had a nap for an hour, it was during one of these naps that the Lord spoke to him of our needs. I rang the vicar; he said the Lord had told him of our need for a new home, he said I could rent a house he owned which was just up the road from where I was living in South Wales. I was elated and praised the Lord. It was November so it got dark early. We had waited for the children to come home from school and have their tea then we got in the car to go and look at this house. It was about three miles away.

I had no idea where it was in this particular road but as I came over a hill I saw the house in the distance, it was as if the Lord had lit it up, it had no number on the door or anything else but I knew in my heart that this was the house. I was told to get the key off the old couple that lived opposite but they were out. I opened the door in the porch and we looked through the sidelights of the main front door, it was lovely as we looked with the aid of a torch. I got my keys and fumbled for one and tried it in the lock, the door opened, when I turned the light on and looked at the key it was the one that opened the front door of the church.

Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:24. (NIV)

Whatever situation we may find ourselves in we must fully believe that God will come to our aid. Do not attempt to solve the problem in your own strength, you will probably fail. Always go to God in prayer, He hears and He acts. Sometimes it may not be the answer to prayer that we want but God knows best. It has been my experience that often we look in a certain direction for an answer to prayer and very often the Lord taps us on the shoulder with an answer and the answer is completely different to what we had expected.

When Jesus comes
Twas the night before Jesus came and all through the house
Not a creature was praying, not one in the house.
Their Bibles were laid on the shelf without care
in hopes that Jesus would not come there.

The children were dressing to crawl into bed
Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head.
And mum in her chair with the baby on her lap
Was watching the late show while I took a nap.

When out of the East there arose such a clatter,
I sprang to me feet to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

When what to my wandering eyes should appear
But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here.
With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray
I knew in a moment that this must be the day!

The light of His face made me cover my head
It was Jesus! Returning, just like He said.
And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth,
I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself.

In the book of life which he held in His hand
Was written the name of every saved man.
He spoke not a word as He searched for my name
When He said, Its not here, my head hung in shame.

The people whose names had been written with love
He gathered to take to His Father above.
With those who were ready He rose without a sound
While all the rest were left standing around.

I fell to my knees, but it was too late!
I had waited so long and thus sealed my fate.
I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight;
Oh, if only I had been ready tonight.

In the words of this poem the meaning is clear;
The coming of Jesus is drawing near.
Theres only one life and when comes the last call
Well find that the Bible was right after all !!!!!

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