Category: Resources

Caste your burdens on the Lord

March 7, 2024

I just read this devotion on Vision V180. There is an good story of a man with a horse and cart. Please enjoy…

From V180 devotion

‘Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you.’ Psalm 55:22 CSB

American author, Hannah Whitall Smith tells a story that took place about a hundred years ago, yet it’s as up-to-date as tomorrow morning’s newspaper. ‘A farmer with a horse and cart notices a man walking along with a heavy sack on his back, so he offers him a ride. The stranger accepts and climbs up onto the cart. But as they proceed down the road, he is still bowed beneath the weight of his sack. The farmer says, “Why don’t you set the sack down?” The stranger replies, “That would be too much to ask. I’m grateful that you’re carrying me, but I would never expect you to carry the sack also.”’ 

That’s what we do when we accept God’s offer of salvation but insist on carrying all our burdens ourselves. ‘Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you.’ (Psalm 55:22 CSB) God won’t begin working on the problem until you turn it over to Him; He gets involved when He gets invited. We wait until we’re falling apart, then wonder why God doesn’t help. ‘You do not have, because you do not ask’ (James 4:2 AMPC). 

Have you asked God for help? Have you placed the problem in His hands, confident that He will work it out for your good, patiently waiting for Him to do it? This doesn’t mean you become passive and sit around doing nothing. You need to do what you believe is right and what you have peace about doing. Learn the difference between your part and God’s part, and stop frustrating yourself by trying to do what only God can do.

Westminter Confession of Faith

March 6, 2024

A very useful document that you can use to understand the Christian faith is the Westminster Confession of Faith.

This document lists all key areas of faith including Creation, God, Man, the Bible, Sin, Saving Faith, the Church, the Sacraments, and Life After Death. In all it touches on 35 areas in 55 pages.

The thing I like about this document is the explanations and then it lists all the Bible verses as references. So you can look up the verses to see where the belief comes from. Unlike the Catholic Catechisms, the sole references are from the Bible.

If you are interested the EPC has one on their website here.

Driving with the Bible

February 9, 2024

One of the things I have been doing over the past year is listening to the Bible as I drive to and from school. I live 110km from my school I work at, so I have to find things to keep me entertained on the 75 minute drive.

I have listened to all of the New Testament in the last year and I am on my second go. The other day on my drive home I listened to Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians. I turned on Galatians as I left school and as I drove down my street I finished Colossians.

Recently as I was driving it really hit me afresh that all of these books are actually letters that were read out to the churches at the time. Not everyone could read or write, but they could all listen and take it in. So in a way I am hearing the text just like the people 2000 years ago.

I actually use the YouVersion Bible app as it connects via Bluetooth to my car sound system. I set it up before I leave and I can put my phone in the glovebox, so I am not tempted to look at it while driving. We have big fines for this where I live and it is not safe too!

Next time you are going on a longer drive I would encourage you to give it a go. It is a great way to be filled up on God’s Word and renew your mind as you drive.

Just before I finish I need to make comment on the beautiful red Corvette Stingray pictured above. Yes it is me, but no it is not my car sadly. Someone drove through town and I got talking to them. He asked if I wanted to have a photo in it. I jumped at the chance!