PJBelfast

Matthew 11:28-30 “ Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Jesus invitation is 5-fold: ... Come to me is responding to His invitation ... Get away with me is experiencing His retreat ... Walk with me is enjoying His journey  ... Learn from me is knowing Him as teacher ... Keep company with me is knowing Him as guide The KJV says " come unto me... Take my yoke upon you and learn of me" The picture here is an agricultural one, namely that of a young bullock being harnessed by a yoke to an older bull. When the yoke is linked to the plough the older bull helps the young bullock plough straight furrows. Likewise, when we are " connected " to Je

Matthew 5:13-16 - The Message Bible Salt and Light 13   “Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage. 14-16  “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven. I love the way the Message puts it. We, the God squad, are to be like salt bringing out the God-flavours in life. We are also to be like light , bringing o

Fish tank filters are great when they are working. Mine sprung a leak on the very weekend we went off on a break. I came back to a soaked floor, which thankfully has tiles. The seal on the filter hadn't closed properly and was leaking water. It's sorted now.  Billy Sunday once said "if you have no joy, there is a leak in your Christianity somewhere!" The scriptures concur that "the joy of the Lord is your strength."  This "joy" quotient is the promise of those in relationship with Jesus.  Let's plug the leaks by deeping our devotional time with Jesus, the one who has "the oil of joy above His fellows." Remember, our faith can "leak" at times, the good news is that it can be sorted. Remember, "in His presence is fullness of joy"  Selah.