Canny Granny's Advice to the Young

Again let me remind you that all my information about Mary comes from the Bible. In (Ot матфея) Matthew 12:46-49 we read on one occasion that Jesus was teaching His followers when someone said that His mother Mary and His brothers were outside the building asking to see Him. (I will have something to add about this later.) In chapter 13:55 and 56 the brothers are named as ,James,Joses, Simon and Judas and there are sisters mentioned too. Again these brothers and sisters are spoken of in Mark 6 verse 3 (от марка). From this we can see that the Bible records that Mary had other children after she had Jesus, undoubtedly the children of Joseph. She did not remain a virgin. These are important facts to take in. None of this is dishonouring to Mary. She was given a specific task, to carry and give birth to God’s Son, once that task was done what more natural than to lead a fulfilling life with Joseph who had stood by her when everyone else thought the worst of her. Mary deserves our respect ...

I realize that what I am saying about Mary is in conflict with all you have been taught.  I am doing this not to upset you but to give you what the Bible teaches about Mary. I believe it is vitally important to get our beliefs from the Bible and nowhere else.  I want you to know these truths and most of all to know that only Jesus can make you acceptable to God. So let's look at the next point, the one of Mary's virginity.  This I believe wholeheartedly and would turn you to Luke chapter one to read about this.  But Mary's virginity is limited in time until some time after the birth of her firstborn son.  Take a look at (от Матфея) Matthew chapter 1 verses 19 -25 Here we find out Joseph's part in the story.  He was betrothed to Mary but they had not come together, that is they had not had sex.  Joseph is very upset to find she is pregnant but it is then that an angel explains to him that Mary is with child by the Holy Spirit and he is told to marry her...

This is a very tricky subject because I know I will upset many people by tackling it.  First let me say that everything I say to you is based only on what the Bible says.  I do believe that Mary was the virgin mother of Jesus and that Jesus was fully man and fully God.  Many people say that Mary was sinless but I can show you that she herself denied this.  She said,"My soul doth magnify the Lord and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour" Read this in Luke (от Лука) 1:46,47. A sinless person does not need a Saviour, but Mary said that God was her Saviour. I have often said that if it was possible to be miserable in heaven then Mary would be the most sad person there, because people often honour her above Jesus.  She would be crying everyday at this . Jesus was her son but also her Saviour. I have many things to add to this but we will take it a step at a time.  Ask the Holy Spirit to help you as you consider these things.  Ask Him to lead you into t...

In Britain we describe two kinds of people. The pessimists who say their glass is half empty and the optimists who delight in the fact that their’s is still half full. They both have the same circumstances in life but see them from completely different perspectives.   I am definitely a glass half full person. I recently said to my daughter what a blessed life I have had and that I don’t seem to have the problems that other people have. She laughed, in a kindly way and reeled off a list of problems I had encountered in life. Yes I am definitely a half full glass sort of person. Are you? Jesus promises to bring us through our problems. Not around them or over them, or having none. It is the problems he brings us through that strengthen and shape us for His glory. When you know Him you soon find that your glass is not just half full, but running over.

I don’t think any of us want to go viral if that means Covid19! I was talking to Jesus about this little blog of mine. I said, “ Lord it’s not exactly going viral.” On a good week about 10 people might visit. But then I said to the Lord, “ So long as the right people are reading it Lord and they are helped to get closer to you that’s fine by me, because I know that You know what you are doing.” So if you’re reading this just remember who put it before your eyes, not a canny granny, but Jesus Himself. Jesus works in amazing ways to bring His sheep home. Maybe He’s calling you.

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.