God the Omnipotent

As with all of us, there are some things I can do better than other things. Somethings I’m really no good at and they are best left to others. I’ve always loved running and walking but cycling is not my favourite thing. It just doesn’t seem to work for me. Others are great cyclists and really enjoy it. As they say, ‘horses for courses’. What would you say you do well? Don’t be modest, we all have some things we excell at. What about the other side? Maybe there is something you’ve given up trying because it just hasn't worked out for you?

God is omnipotent – which means there is no lack to His power and His ability to do all things.

God the Omnipresent
Ever looked at your diary, realised you have double booked, and had to apologise and cancel one of them?
God never double-books.
Ever been on the home phone and your mobile has gone off in another room? You can’t answer both at the same time. 
God can and does billions of times over every single day.
Ever been stretched in three directions at one time and failed to adequately manage any of them?
God can and does.

How? Because God is omnipresent. He is present everywhere and every time - all of the time. 

God the Immutable

Today, we're thinking about how God is immutable! How cool is that? 

So what does that mean?

All of us have undergone change in our lives; we change as we grow older. We change location, jobs, we might even change our style. We certainly change our views, as we learn more about the reality of life and how to navigate it. 

"Change and decay are all around us," as Allan Massie stated. 

We might not always welcome change but we know its inevitable. God is immutable – He doesn’t change. He is forever the same. If God has DNA, then change is not in it. 

What kind of God do we believe in?
This morning we are going to ask the question “where did God come from?”

How many times have you had a conversation with someone about creation and you’ve arrived at this place? "Ok, if God created everything there is who created God?"

Good question, and not one that’s easy to answer; at least, not in a way that people can initially grasp. 

God is Spirit

Welcome to another week of devotions. 
This week, we are going to ask that question “What is God like?”. It's often a question we pose when we are talking about someone we haven’t met yet. "What are they like?"

We may be expecting a physical description; some details about their background, where they have come from, or where they live. Initially, we are probably not looking for too many intimate details like their mental or physical health although we might be interested in their views and values. When it comes to God, it all gets a bit more complex. Thankfully, God has revealed enough of Himself to give us a good start in trying to address the question “What is God like?”

A Kingdom Welcome

Imagine a world where the rich have all the power. Where status and wealth means you get special preferential treatment.  Imagine a world where the rich and the powerful exploit those who have less, and order society so that they get richer and keep others down.

Of course, it is not hard to imagine because we live in such a world. I guess every age, society, country, kingdom has, to a greater or lesser degree, succumbed to this. The wealthy and powerful keeping the status quo.  With our own leaders, there are stories of contracts given to friends and old school mates, peerages seemingly gifted to those who can financially support, cash for questions.

We live in a world where the rich and famous jump to the front of the queue, get the best invites, get things for free, even though they could afford it.

A society where the divide between rich and poor seems to grow, despite government priorities and manifestos.

True Wisdom

We are working through the opening verse of James’s letter, spending our second day on part of chapter 1, where James brings challenging statements of wisdom. Sayings that really cut to the heart of how we are to live as followers of Jesus. 

Yesterday we thought about being quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to be angry, being people in control of our words.   But James wisdom in these few chapters doesn’t stop there.  

Quick to Listen, Slow to Anger
I wonder, if I asked you to give me some sage advice – a line of wisdom – what would you say to me? What would I say to you? 
Perhaps it would be something passed on to you from a family member, or a wise friend. Perhaps it would be something you have picked up; a life experience. James is full of such lines. He is almost following in the style of some of the Old Testament wisdom writings.  Today’s short passage is stock full of wise advice, lines of wisdom for the follower of Jesus.  We are going to spend time in this passage today and tomorrow, so we can think a little about the wisdom James wants those early Christians to hear. 

Bearers of Fruit

With the season moving on, we are watching our garden spring into life. As I write this, we have some decent rain, the grass is greener and the vegetables we have planted are beginning to grow.  We have a bed of established strawberries and are seeing the fruit take shape. Green at the moment but it won’t be long before they start turning red.  You can be sure that the first person to taste the first fruits of our garden this year will be Isaac; he will be the first to pick a strawberry and bite into it. 

But that strawberry, will hopefully bring with it the promise of many more to come this season

Stand Firm
We are going to spend time this week in the opening chapter of the letter of James.  

There has been lots of debate over who the James is that wrote this letter; James being a common name at that time. Many believe it was written by James, the brother of Jesus, the prominent early church leader in Jerusalem.   But the letter is written very much with Jewish believers in mind. It was written to a church that is suffering persecution. A very practical letter, with lots of strong challenges encouraging the followers of Jesus to live out their lives in obedience. For James, the lives of the followers of Jesus, should count; should make a difference.