Canny Granny's Advice to the Young

The sale of freezers at the beginning of the panic-edemic  soared. If you bought one for that reason I would turn you to the Bible, Luke’s gospel chapter 12 verses 13 -21. After a short introduction Jesus speaks of a rich farmer who had a bumper harvest and decided to pull down his old barns and build bigger ones to hold all his harvest. He decided then to retire and live off his wealth. But he had forgotten God. And God called him a fool because that very night he would die and would have to leave behind all his goods. If you thought that there was going to be a famine, surely you must have realized that civilisation could break down to such an extent that the electricity supply would break down. Or did you buy a generator too. Aha where would the fuel come from? The only answer is to turn to God. It is He who has supplied everything you ever needed. And the only thing you ever needed was God. Stop frantically rushing around to find toilet rolls and get on your knees to God befor...

We hear the word pandemic and we are plunged into panic and despair. But why? Nothing has changed, we are no nearer to the time of our death and no further away. For God chose the time of our death long before we were born and it will not change. The politicians speak of people dying before their time, but this is not so. God has planned every death whether from Covid19 or something else. He is sovereign, you can’t slip any deaths past Him, He has it all under His wonderful control. This is why the Christian should safely trust in his Maker. Not only your death but each breath of your life is planned by Him. When you have a “bad” day realise it was not a bad day but the day God planned for you and maybe it was a restful day to give you the energy for your next “good” day. God makes no mistakes and even takes our mistakes and uses them the way He pleases. A realisation of these things makes for a contented life in all circumstances. Underneath are the everlasting arms.

Everyone experiences fear when faced with something as threatening as the Coronavirus. Then as a Christian one feels guilty for being afraid. We know God is in charge and that we should trust Him to bring us safely through this situation. God says to us, “Fear not.” But this is because He knows we will be afraid until we put our trust in Him. Let the fear drive you into His loving arms.Fear is not there to cripple you but to be the means of experiencing the Father’s love for you. Even the great prophet Elijah experienced fear. Read about him in 1Kings 19. So don’t feel guilty when you are afraid, but let it be the trigger to bring you closer to God.

There is only one place to find perfect peace.  Listen to these words from Isaiah 26:3,4  "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusts in Thee.Trust you in the Lord forever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength." I would recommend reading the rest of the chapter (after all you have plenty of time at the moment!!)   It is when you realize how great and wonderful God is and that you know Him as your Saviour and that you dwell on that thought, that you will begin to grow in confidence. This is the great and glorious God who made all things, who spoke the universe into being and lovingly created all things, including you.  When He created Adam and Eve He also placed your DNA into them to unfold thousands of years later.  Yes He was thinking of you at that time.  This is the tender Father who cares for us if we will just put our trust in Him. So if you place your trust in Him, stay your mind on Him He will give...

Did you think I was this super spiritual person, who sees God at work in everything and glides through life on a silver cloud, never perturbed by anything? Well that is not me.  I have to work at seeing the truth that God is indeed at work in everything, and at times I feel low and depressed.  Life isn't a bowl of roses and some times are harder than others.  We are all living in hard times the world over, but we in the West have to realize that we are still far better off than many in the third world.  Many of them have no prospect of a ventilator if they become ill.  My problem comes from getting very cold two days ago.  I hadn't realized how cold it was in the garden and by the time I went indoors I needed to put on a heavy fleece and to have a hot water bottle on my lap.  I began to think I might have a chill and that perhaps I was laying myself open to catching the corona virus.  I am used to short bouts of depression. But it makes me wonder ...

This is the term some have given to all those people in society who for one reason or another are not paying any tax into the treasury’s coffers. It includes those of pension age and forgets that they have paid a lifetime of taxes already. It also includes children and adults who will never pass an exam or do a day’s work because they are disabled in some way. What is also forgotten is that grand parents often help bring up their grandchildren and make it possible for the parents u to go to work. Apart from that the older generation can give much joy to their families. Disabled children are precious to their parents. These things cannot be measured with money. Some people think the country would be better off without these people, but perhaps it would be better not to have those who fill the Houses of Parliament with hot air and take a fat salary. Perhaps not, after all a human life is a very precious thing. A government’s job is to defend the rights of all under God and responsible to...

At night as I get ready to sleep, I find myself checking my breathing, wondering if my temperature is at all high. Any little cough is viewed with suspicion. And then in the morning I wake with a sense of relief that the virus has not overwhelmed me yet. It is natural to feel like this but in it all I have an inner peace which comes from knowing and trusting in Jesus. I know that the virus can only attack if this is what Jesus wants for me. As He will only do what is best for me, I can rest peacefully in that knowledge. After all if the virus kills me I will then be with my wonderful Saviour for ever and ever in heavenly bliss. This peace is available to all who will put their trust in Jesus. He says, “ Come unto Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn of  Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden if light.”

If I was in charge of an important section of the world’s population and I had come to believe the way it was proceeding was untenable, in my view; I would get together with other world leaders and discuss what could be done.   How could the population be persuaded to give up their wasteful life style? Surely people who enjoyed three holidays abroad a year, spacious homes, evenings out, meals out, coffees out and drove large cars ; could not be easily persuaded to give up this lifestyle just because someone in authority thought it would be for the best. I wouldn’t be in a hurry to do this.   First with other world leaders I would get scientists involved and make sure that they were seen on news programmes explaining the ways in which the population’s lust for pleasure was killing the world, whether it was or not.   Congenial, smiling scientists would bring their statistics before the population night after night on T.V., often having whole programmes devoted to thei...

Covid 19 is a cloud over all the people’s of the world , but it is but the precursor of a much blacker cloud. A cruel king, appearing to be kindly and fatherly is coming to reign with a rod of iron. Quite honestly we deserve it, because, for the most part we have turned our backs on our true and rightful king , King Jesus. We have turned our backs on His commands and lived just as we please. I have known Him to be my Saviour from childhood and yet I disobeyed Him and left my husband for another man and although I know He has forgiven me I am distressed that I have treated Him with such disrespect. It is time for those of us who know the Lord to repent and plead with Him to forgive and turn away the evil waiting in the wings. We need to keep so close to Jesus and remember, no matter what happens He is in charge and will save His people. When life gets difficult Jesus becomes more precious. “For we know that all things work together for good to them that love God who are the called accor...

So in the last Hi-jacker post I spoke about people claiming to be followers of Jesus, who proved themselves not to be by their actions. Did Jesus wear gorgeous robes?  No. He did have a robe which the soldiers at the cross didn't want to spoil by dividing it up, but it was not encrusted in jewels and stitched with gold thread. Was He impressed by the temple? He said that the religious leaders had made it a den of thieves and that in a few years' time it would be demolished.  So why do people build enormous cathedrals?  They say it is for the glory of God, but I don't think God is interested in the wealth and power that is needed to build them.  He comes to the humble of heart. Although christians need to come together to encourage each other it is in the secret place of the individual heart that God looks for His praise. So pomp and circumstance have no place in the christians life.  Instead we are told to walk humbly in God's presence.  That's sounds strai...

Our world up to now has been characterized by selfishness. Everyone wants a huge house and a fast fuel guzzling car, with holidays abroad two or three times a year, needing countless plane journeys.  Now I feel a little bit smug because I had never been abroad until 2017 and then again in 2018. I also live in a tiny bungalow, a one storey house. I save the water from my shower and washing up of dishes to water my little garden.  Back in January I sold my car because I was not enjoying driving and hated all the money needed to keep it going. What a good thing I sold it then, no one would buy it from me now!! What makes people want things and then the newest version?  I think it is because they have a big hole in their lives that they are trying to fill, but things can never satisfy that hole because it is actually a God-shaped hole and only God can fill it and give the necessary satisfaction.  You see in one respect I am just like all the other people wanting things....

Down through history the true church of Jesus has been hi-jacked time after time by people with their own agenda which has nothing to do with Jesus and His teachings. Jesus lived a simple life. First as a carpenter and then as a preacher travelling the length of Israel. He healed those who were ill but reprimanded the religious leaders of the day. He gave His life on the cross to save all who will believe in Him. Yet ever since , although there have always been the few who have truly followed in His footsteps, there have always been the many who have built luxurious lives for themselves, and positions of grandeur claiming to be His followers They have also waged war in His name for their own ends. We should always beware of the religious who are proud of their position in the church . They claim to follow Jesus who was meek and lowly, but they are proud and love to be at the top of society. He healed the sick but they won’t give a coin to the beggar in the street. He taught us to love ...

Every human being, from the just conceived child to the oldest man and woman and including the ill, and the disabled, is made in the image of God.  God created them and only He has the right to take their life again.  We have to realize God is not mocked or in any way thwarted by the seemingly untimely death of anyone.  Even that He controls, but He will always demand an explanation from the murderer.   I thought that Hitler lost the war, but now I see he only lost a battle, for his spirit is still abroad today.  The spirit that says only the fit and strong, who can work, are of any value. Such people, who follow Hitler, forget that they may succumb to illness and frailty. A fit and strong person can wake up one morning to find that they have a crippling illness. Will they offer themselves up for sacrifice when the system considers them useless?   God is not an absent landlord.  He is fully aware of what goes on in His world and He will want an expla...

This blog is entitled Canny Granny's Advice to the Young so it's about time I addressed the issue of the present circumstances and what it means for young people.  Suddenly your education has been disrupted.  No exams this Summer and great uncertainty about the future.  I would advise you to keep as busy as you can.  Learning doesn't have to stop just because there isn't a teacher present.  Now is a chance to read as widely as you can and develop a critical attitude to all that you see and hear in society. Don't accept things at face value. Use your brain to think for yourself, to analyze what is going on in society.  But most importantly of all ponder the existence of God.  For this you will need to read a Bible. This is most important. It should not be done lightly.  This is the big question and your future depends on it. How you answer this question will decide your future path in life and where you will spend eternity. You will either believe ...

The greater part of the world is living under house arrest.  What crime did we commit? What jury condemned us? What judge sentenced us? When Paul of the Bible was under house arrest he saw it as an opportunity to preach the gospel. We should do the same.The gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes. In our day we are surrounded by people full of fear over a virus which is probably no more potent than flu, which indeed does kill some people every year.  But people need to realize that their fear is misplaced.  They should be fearing God who has the power to send them to hell when they refuse to put their trust in Jesus as the only Saviour. In great kindness God has sent this trouble on the world to wake us up.  We who have believed in Him for many years need to repent of our luke warm love for Him. We need to wake up and praise Him in a way that is worthy of His great majesty and power.  We who know Him already have taken Him for granted...

I'm so glad for the things my mother taught me.  I was born after the Second World War but I can just remember that there was still rationing.  In particular I remember the orange juice for children under five which I enjoyed very much.  I saw my mother managing on very little, but I was never hungry. With bread we either had butter or jam, not the two together. Over the years things improved and I think it helped that we lived in the country. I didn't have a telephone or television until I married.  Now I have become so disillusioned with television that I'm back where I started with the radio.   Back in those early days you learnt that if you wanted something you had to save up for it.  In recent years I wanted to go to Russia for a holiday so I saved hard for it.  Every time something broke down such as the microwave and electric blanket, I would throw it out and not replace it.  It amazing how easily you can cope without a microwave!!  ...

I reminded myself yesterday that singing is the best breathing exercise.  It is not just a matter of breathing  in and out and holding your breath, but involves a lot of vibration from the throat downwards.  As I am a christian I am singing hymns.  These remind me of the things I hold dear in my faith, things about God's nature and of His love for His children.  This means that as well as increasing my lung capacity my spirit is lifted up as well. I guess it is good to increase one's lung capacity as, if the virus strikes, breathlessness is likely to do less harm.   If you were ever a Boy Scout or Girl Guide you should be able to remember some jolly songs from those days. the louder you can sing the better, but do remember your neighbours.  I don't have to worry about that as I live in an end house and have good sound insulation. Just think when this is all over you may be able to audition for The Voice!!

What is all this isolation doing to people? For families there is all the usual contact within the family.  The everyday touch of a hand, the hugging of the children, the intimate side of life.  There will of course be frayed tempers when people are getting under each other's feet, but that is surely better than the condition of lonely older people.  For the ones like myself who have techy leanings and can contact friends and family on Zoom, Skype, WhatsApp, Messenger, FaceTime etc.etc. life is not too bad.  It is suprizing how important seeing ones loved ones is, as opposed to just hearing them on the phone.Something Grannies know from having grandchildren in Australia. However many older people cannot do this.  For them the days must drag terribly and be filled with wondering how long this will go on. For gregarious people it can be torture. One wonders which is more important, their physical health or their mental health.   I also have big doubts about...