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.”