What a Way to live! For ‘ordinary’ believers – John Beaumont
Recently a couple of separate things have come together in my thinking and I’d like to share them with you if I may.
Last year we were delighted and blessed to have David and Nina, Con and Olive, all from Ireland visit us here in New Zealand. As I was sitting alone on the last afternoon they were here I asked Father, Is there anything else you would like me to share with these precious friends before they leave?? Immediately a scripture leaped into my mind. It was John 21.22 If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.? The initial emphasis to me was in the command ?follow Me? which seemed a very simple thought to share with these folk who have followed the Lord Jesus for many years.
This is how the Psalmist describes what our God is like; “The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.” [Psalm 145:8,9]
If you are part of a growing number of Christians who are leaving the organized church there is a price to pay. For some it will be higher than for others. It may be the simple question, “Where do you fellowship?” or “what church do you go to?” that triggers guilt and that horrible feeling that you are not quite living up to the set standard.
Over recent months I have heard comments from several friends about not expecting the return of Christ at any time soon, or for a long time even because the church is far from ready. Well, if you look around, that seems to be a plausible opinion…
In Luke 15 we read the story of The Generous Father. He is faced with the responsibility of raising two sons who are quite different. We have read the story of the Prodigal son or the lost son and many of us can identify with the pain that many parents…
As an introduction to this story, I want it to be clear that there is nothing new in my sharing. In other words, you will have heard it all before. In fact, having heard it all before is one of those unfortunate detours on the journey of life that takes us further from Father’s grace intention, which is simply…
I recently used the above wording on a card for my sister and her husband as they move into a new home . . . like this:
“May your home be filled with love and laughter, peace and plenty, comfort and care. And may Jesus be your living-on-the- premises Lord, Helper and Friend….”
Following recent discussions with dear friends about the breaking of bread in the context of wanting to live free from the customs and traditions of man-made church structures. I have looked into this subject again and want to share some thoughts on it. The following is worth…
A couple of years ago Jenny and I travelled by invitation to Great Wenham to attend the wedding of a young couple who we have known for a short time only….
You might want to read and reflect upon these amazing statements in John chapter 1 and praise Him for His greatness!…
Letters written in response to emails in which a pastor’s wife shares her heart and…
Years ago we heard of a missionary to an African country who was translating the Bible into the local language, with the help of several local people. They came across one really difficult problem. Nobody could think of how to translate…
“Why on earth have so many committed believers left the structured, man-controlled thing that in our day is called “The Church?”
“Do each of us have a different reason or are there just a few basic causes for the mass exodus that has been taking place?”…
There’s an open door in heaven
And One seated upon the throne
Come up here and see
And I will show you the things I have in my heart
Things which eye has not seen…
Anointed Lives – Anointed Ministry
Some time ago we were visited by good friends Graeme and Toni whom we’d not seen for a year or two. Looking back over the years, Graeme commented that there were two men with anointed ministries who had made a significant impact on their lives. But for those two, he felt they well may have accepted as normal the sub-standard level that is commonplace all around, to the…
An open letter to single believers!
Q – “Why does it seem that all the people I hear about in the community of believers are couples…I am beginning to feel that couples are forgetting about us singles…”…
A second question asked by Julie after reading one of John Beaumont’s books…
Now, your other question, “Could you please tell me a bit more about the inferiority complex you had, and how you feel God overcame that in you.”…
“For this reason, all of creation came into being, that it may be a mirror of God. And eyes were made that they may behold Him in the mirror, and rejoice in the vision.?” wrote a scholar a century or two ago…
For a considerable length of time, I have had mixed feelings about where we and dear friends of ours are, in the spiritual dimension of life. On one hand, I am delighted for freedom from tradition which has released us to love and follow the Lord Jesus more wholeheartedly. On the other hand, I have a deep grieving within me that we seem to be making unacceptably slow progress into whatever it takes to see Christ as wonderfully glorified as He deserves to be…
It seems to me that for some years the Lord has been at work changing the shape of His Church wineskin in preparation for the new wine. In His wisdom and grace, Jesus is shaping you…
We can hear – but will we listen?
We have the capacity as Christians to know the will and purpose of God for our lives. There is no mystery to this but, simply a growing conviction that this is the way we are called…
Over the years there has been a growing exodus from what has become known as the organized church. People have left for various reasons, some have been good…
The way forward…A continuing saga!
The dynamic simplicity of Church life working and living in a newfound freedom. I have often pondered this thought of a “dynamic Church” and did so just a few days ago when I remembered fondly…